What is BRAC?
BRAC is an acronym that stands for Base Realignment and Closure. It is the congressionally authorized process the Department of Defense (DoD) has to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business. In 2005, the BRAC Commission’s recommendations were approved by the President and became law on November 9th, 2005.


For more information on BRAC please visit the:
US Department of Defense BRAC Website.

For more information on the BRAC Commission please visit the:
BRAC Commission Website.

Why is BRAC Important to the Gateway Region?
Fort Lee, home to the Army Quartermasters, is the major military installation and leading employer in the region and is slated to expand as a result of BRAC and the closure and realignment of other military installations across the country.

This expansion is currently underway and will be complete by 2011. Fort Lee will be doubling in size both in terms of population and square feet of training space.

Fort Lee is currently the logistics hub for the Army in Virginia. Once BRAC is complete at Fort Lee, the installation will be the logistical nerve center for the Army worldwide; every item ordered throughout the Army will be coordinated through Fort Lee.

This expansion and logistical expertise reinforces the assets of the region while exiting military and trailing spouses will further enhance an already exceptional workforce.

Fort Lee: Economic Engine
Fort Lee serves as the focal point for Army Logistics and provides support to U.S. Army Joint and Coalition operations around the world. It is home of the Combined Arms Support Command, U.S. Army Garrison, Army Logistics College, Quartermaster Center and School, and the headquarters for the Defense Commissary Agency.

It is home for nearly 3,200 military personnel and equally as many family members, 600 single solders on the installation, and another 2,300 families off-post. On any given day between 3,000 and 4,200 students are trained there.

Most of the students attend one of nine Advance Individual Training courses at the Quartermaster Center and School (QMC&S). However, officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and civilians also attend classes at the QMC&S, and the Army Logistics Management College (ALMC). Students are also enrolled in the distance learning courses offered through ALMC, and the post trains more than 24,000 students annually.

- The post currently provides employment for 3,000 civilians who support the military.

- Each year Fort Lee currently contributes over $700 million to the local economy.

Financial Impact of Fort Lee (FY 06' - 07')

• Military Payroll: $346.6 million

• Civilian Payroll: $198.6 million

• AAFES Sales: $45.6 million

• Commissary Sales: $32.6 million

• Contractual Services: $49.3 million

• Major Construction: $209 million (07')

For more information on Fort Lee please visit the Fort Lee Website.

The Future of Fort Lee
Fort Lee is the logistical nerve center for the Army and home to the Quartermasters. Over the next seven years the size of Fort Lee Installation will more than double and the offshoot of the expansion will result in thousands of new jobs (military personnel, contractors and resulting company locations in support of the expansion) and over a billion dollars in construction activities.

The following centers are being consolidated and relocated to Fort Lee over the next 5-7 years. In some cases, construction is already underway for these centers as well as for additional housing on post. The 2005 BRAC recommendations will create a Combat Service Support Center (consolidation of the Ordnance, Quartermaster, Transportation Centers and Schools), consolidation of the Defense Contract Management Agency Headquarters and all components of the Defense Commissary Agency (DECA) and the transfer of Joint Culinary and Transportation Management to the base.

Elements Being Consolidated at Fort Lee (Previous Location)

• The Transportation Center and School (Fort Eustis, VA)

• The Ordnance Center and School (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD)

• The Missile and Munitions Center (Redstone Arsenal, AL)

• The Defense Contract Management Agency, DCMA HQ (Alexandria, VA)

• The Defense Commissary Agency, DECA (Virginia Beach, VA, San Antonio, TX, Hopewell, VA)

• Culinary Training (Lackland AFB, TX)

• Transportation Management Training (Lackland AFB, TX)

Data Sources:
Fort Lee Website
CPDC Fort Lee Growth Management Plan (prepared by RKG Associates)
Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority

Projected Impact of Fort Lee

• Additional 6,000 military personnel, spouses and children.

• Influx of more than 5,000 civilian contractors and their families.

• Approx. 200 temporary construction workers needed to complete building plans.

• Estimated $1.9 billion in military construction spending.

• Hundreds of thousands of new square feet of commercial/retail space.

• Thousands of new residential units.

• Influx of trailing spouses looking for employment in the region.

• Daycare/childcare/school/and social services for added population.

Data Sources:
Fort Lee Website
CPDC Fort Lee Growth Management Plan (prepared by RKG Associates)
Virginia National Defense Industrial Authority

Fort Lee BRAC Update
The BRAC process at Fort Lee is fully underway as the Army prepares to relocate the numerous elements and personnel that are slated to be in place by 2013. Ten projects totaling more than 1.5 billion dollars have been awarded since mid-2007, the first is scheduled to be fully operational by April, 2009. At the conclusion of the BRAC process more than 7 million square feet of buildings will have been constructed on Fort Lee. The resulting facilities will house and train the "Log Warriors" of the future and serve as Headquarters for the Army's Combined Arms Support Command as well as the Ordnance, Quartermaster and Transportation Centers and Schools.

Thus far, the following major projects have been undertaken:

Sustainment Center of Excellence
Thompkins Builders, Inc. was awarded the construction contract for the Sustainment Center of Excellence headquarters 6 June, 2007; construction should be complete by December, 2008.

Army Logistics University
Balfour Beatty Construction won the construction contract for the Army Logistics University Education Building and Simulation Center in mid-June, 2007; completion is scheduled for April, 2009.

Ordnance School Campus
Clearing and grading of the Ordnance School campus is complete and the installation of the infrastructure for the campus has begun. An option on the infrastructure contract allows for the construction of a Vehicle Flyover to connect the two areas of Fort Lee by spanning all four lanes of Route 36. Fort Sill Apache Industries was awarded the infrastructure contract with a notice to proceed in November of 2007 and an anticipated completion time of April, 2009.

The North Range
With site preparation well underway, the North Range complex will include classrooms, labs and field environments for the Ordnance Center and Schools. North Range training will include recovery operations encompassing all manner of situations, from the smallest wheeled vehicle mired in mud to a rollover of the largest armored tracked vehicle in the Army inventory.

Tactical Support Equipment Department
Hensel Phelps is building the Tactical Support Equipment Department (TSED) facility on a portion of the Ordnance School campus. Awarded in November of 2007, the $47 million project will provide facilities for equipment maintenance training in a consolidated building housing classrooms, general purpose administration, operations, labs and a mid-bay area. The facility will accommodate 750 students and 115 staff. It is comprised of 260,500 SF and completion is expected in May of 2009.

Soldier Support Center
The Soldier Support Center will provide a central location for almost all service support activities required by incoming and outgoing military personnel, civil service employees, retirees and family members. The Design-Build contract was awarded to Rocky Hill Construction in November of 2007. Construction of the facility is scheduled to be complete in mid-2009.

Source: Fort Lee Website, Oct 2008.