ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 12, 2007) – Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown and key members of the BRAC Subcabinet met with Lieutenant General Charles E. Croom Jr., director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and commander of the Joint Task Force – Global Network Operations, and other senior DISA staff members at DISA headquarters in Arlington, Va., today. The meeting provided a forum in which Maryland officials could discuss the state’s efforts to further support DISA’s mission during the transition to Fort Meade, and DISA officials could outline their plans for the move.
In addition to Lt. Gov. Brown, the Maryland contingent included Asuntha Chiang-Smith, BRAC Subcabinet executive director, and Cabinet Secretaries James E. Lyons Sr., Ph.D., Higher Education; Thomas E. Perez, Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation; John D. Porcari, Department of Transportation; and Raymond A. Skinner, Department of Housing & Community Development. Mary Gable represented State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, Ph.D. BGen Mike Hayes, USMC (Ret.), managing director of the Office of Military and Federal Affairs in the Department of Business and Economic Development, also participated in the meeting.
“Maryland has a rich military history that dates back to our nation’s infancy. We remain committed to the mission we’ve been given and are excited to welcome the dedicated employees at DISA to that tradition,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “We recognize that DISA employees face difficult personal decisions and that the agency faces challenges in moving its operations to Fort Meade. This meeting was a way for Maryland to express our long-standing commitment to assist the DISA community in making and implementing those decisions while upholding DISA’s mission.”
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is a Department of Defense (DOD) combat support agency that delivers information technology to enhance the capabilities of the nation’s warfighters and all who support them in defense of the nation.
“Maryland's forward-thinking approach to preparing for DISA’s move to Ft. Meade reflects the value Maryland officials place on DISA and our employees,” said Lt. Gen. Charles E. Croom, Jr., director, Defense Information Systems Agency and Commander, Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations. “We appreciate Governor O’Malley’s tireless efforts to welcome us.”
DISA is responsible for planning, engineering, acquiring, fielding, and supporting global net-centric solutions to serve the needs of the president, vice president, the secretary of defense, combatant commanders, and other DOD components, under all conditions of peace and war. DISA operates under the direction of the assistant secretary of defense for networks and information integration [ASD(NII)]. With a workforce of approximately 1,900 active duty military personnel and 5,000 civilians, located in the National Capital Region and in 29 field offices around the world, DISA aims to provide sufficient and efficient voice, video, data, and computing capabilities to meet the requirements of our “customers.”