Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Torch passed at Belvoir
A new Fort Belvoir commander will lead the way for the incoming 19,000 federal base realignment and closure (BRAC) workers.
Col. Jerry L. Blixt, 47, took the helm as installation commander in a short ceremony last week.
Praise was lavished on the outgoing commander, retiring Col. Brian Lauritzen, who was given the unpleasant task three years ago of organizing and laying the groundwork for the doubling of working personnel on Belvoir property. Lauritzen also launched the master planning process that will act as a guide for the base's land use strategies through 2030.
“Our beloved Belvoir is in great hands,” Lauritzen said, and then joked to his successor, “As a final commitment, Jerry, to my wife and kids so they know my commitment is true, I hand over my Blackberry.”
A native of Galesburg, Ill., Blixt is a graduate of the Naval War College and most recently commanded the U.S. Army Headquarters Battalion at Fort Myer from 2002 to 2004.
Blixt was unavailable for comment.
“It absolutely will be a difficult job. Finishing the BRAC would be a big enough job, but he has the entire expansion of the Ft. Belvoir master plan in front of him as well,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) who sits on the BRAC Board of Advisors.
In addition to the BRAC-related construction of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and a new hospital, Blixt will also oversee the construction of the National Museum of the U.S. Army, which is expected to generate up to a million visitors a year.
Belvoir is home to more than 100 tenant and satellite organizations.
Still on the table is BRAC 133, the decision that will be made this September on where to move 6,200 incoming Washington Headquarters Services employees. Three sites are in contention: the GSA warehouses in Springfield and the Victory Center and Mark Center, both in Alexandria.
You must be logged in to post a comment.