CARLISLE, PA (February 26, 2014) - The Pennsylvania Military Protection Commission has reached out to Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) to establish a Cumberland and York Area Local Defense Group to coordinate, develop and implement recommendations to enhance the military value of the installations in the area.

These installations include the Carlisle Barracks, the Naval Support Activity, Mechanicsburg and the Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna, New Cumberland.

The Cumberland and York Area Local Defense Group's primary responsibilities will be to gather interested and invested individuals, businesses and organizations to meet regularly to identify and enact upon opportunities that will enhance the military value of our resident military installations through project development and funding; speak with one voice in articulating the support for these installations, recommendations and opportunities; coordinate efforts within the County; and to conduct studies to illustrate the benefits of the installations in the area.

"We believe that by creating and sustaining a successful Cumberland and York Area Local Defense Group our area will be able to proactively identify and resolve issues affecting our installations here in Cumberland and Northern York", said Jonathan Bowser, CAEDC CEO.

Governor Tom Corbett established the Pennsylvania Military Community Protection Commission in 2012. The purpose of the Commission is to assist the Governor to enhance the military value of, and advocacy for, all installations, organizations and defense related regions located within the Commonwealth. The Commission provides recommendations, policies, plans and processes along with implementing instructions to achieve this goal. The Governor has appointed the Lieutenant Governor as Chairperson of the Commission, four members of the Pennsylvania Military Installations and Base Development Caucus and senior level individuals to represent each of the 10 major installations and organizations located in Pennsylvania.

Lieutenant General (US Army, Retired) Ron Adams, a resident of Cumberland County, was appointed as Senior Commissioner by Governor Corbett. Adams believes that members of our armed forces, both uniformed and civilian and the defense industries that support them, make significant contributions to the security of our Nation while also "...acting as an economic engine to help sustain and grow our local economies." Adams asserts that in an era of reduced budgets, "...we must remain vigilant to any effort to reduce or eliminate any of the military installations, activities or organizations in Pennsylvania. That vigilance requires coordinated efforts by both the private and public sectors at state and local level." This initiative to form a Cumberland and York Area Local Defense Group is a great first step in focusing that vigilance and marshalling local energies and resources."