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Civil-military council reaffirms commitment to collaboration
Guam Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero and Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman are joined by U.S. military and Cabinet officials after the Civil-Military Coordination Council meeting at JRM Headquarters last June 29. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
ASAN, Guam—Guam Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero and Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman convened the Civil-Military Coordination Council at JRM Headquarters last June 29 to foster collaboration between the Department of Defense and the Guam government.
More than a dozen GovGuam agencies were represented, including the Department of Public Works, the Guam Department of Labor, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, the Guam International Airport, the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority, and the Department of Land Management.
In her opening remarks, Leon Guerrero welcomed Huffman and expressed appreciation for the ongoing collaboration. “The insight we gain from your team is a fundamental portion of our discussions,” Leon Guerrero said.
The meeting ran for more than two hours as government agency directors and personnel from multiple service branches shared updates and brainstormed solutions to common challenges. Topics ranged from pet air transportation for military personnel assigned to Guam, to complex regional subjects such as the construction labor shortage and the challenges facing the housing market.
This council meeting was the first for Huffman who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share knowledge among so many experts. “This is a critical partnership and helps ensure we work as a team,” Huffman said. “I’m impressed by the amount of information shared, and I am confident that we will continue to work together closely.”
As the meeting ended, participants prepared action lists and made plans for continued coordination. The next CMCC is tentatively scheduled for some time in the fall.
The CMCC was established in 2010; it provides a forum for open communication to holistically approach and resolve topics as partners. The council meets at least once a year. (PR)
