WHEREAS, Military and Coast Guard installations, infrastructure, and personnel in the State of New Jersey make important contributions to national security and our State's economy; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey welcomes Military and Coast Guard installations and has a long history of active support for its Military and Coast Guard installations, the individuals serving in those Services, their families, retirees and veterans; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey's public and private research universities, government agencies and private sector research industries are valuable assets providing the Military and the Coast Guard with access to leading edge technologies and skilled personnel that enhance their capability to accomplish missions more effectively and efficiently; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey has a highly educated work force with more engineers, scientists and technologists per capita than any of the other 49 States; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey is a national leader in research and development of electronics innovations and home to thousands of electronics and high technology companies;

WHEREAS, New Jersey is a strategic location centrally located in the Boston to Washington Corridor with reliable mass transportation systems and Interstate Highways, sharing major Ports with Philadelphia and New York; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey is within close proximity to twenty five percent of the population of the United States; and

WHEREAS, local officials, community organizations, the business community, and concerned individuals are committed not only to maintaining our military and Coast Guard installations but also to enhancing those installations to the benefit of our nation and State; and

WHEREAS, national security and the nation's economy would benefit from enhanced military and Coast Guard missions in New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, in order to maximize the effectiveness of Military and Coast Guard installations in New Jersey, it is necessary now to focus, streamline, and coordinate the activities of various State agencies involved in this vital and most important effort;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. MCGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. There is hereby established The Governor's Commission to Support and Enhance New Jersey's Military and Coast Guard Installations that shall have the following purposes:
   1. To gather information about the status of ongoing initiatives of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Military Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal departments and agencies that could impact the State of New Jersey;
   2. To communicate with Members of New Jersey's Congressional Delegation regarding efforts to support and enhance Military and Coast Guard installations in New Jersey;
   3. To act as liaison between communities and businesses that can assist and support New Jersey's Military and Coast Guard installations;
   4. To advise the Governor on proactive strategies that could assist the State in strengthening New Jersey's Military and Coast Guard installations;
   5. To assist in the coordination of State responses to national security and homeland security challenges;
   6. To promote partnerships between New Jersey Military and Coast Guard installations and educational institutions, research universities, state and local government, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and industries that could support and enhance military and Coast Guard operations;
   7. To advise the Governor and Members of Congress regarding opportunities to enhance, expand, add or otherwise improve missions, programs, facilities, and operations on or affecting Military and Coast Guard installations in New Jersey;
   8. To undertake other activities consistent with the purposes of this Executive Order.

2. The membership of the Commission shall consist of the following 25 members: The Secretary of Commerce, the Commissioners of the Departments of Community Affairs, Education, Health and Senior Services, and Transportation, ex-officio voting members, or their designees; one representative of the Governor's Executive Staff; and 19 public members appointed by the Governor, including at least one community representative for each of the major military installations in the State.

3. The Chair of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor. The Commission shall meet at least quarterly and conduct itself pursuant to a set of operating principles approved by the full Commission. The Commission shall report quarterly to the Governor and shall expire December 31, 2005.

4. The Commission is authorized to call upon any department, office or agency of State government to provide such information, resources or other assistance deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order. Each department, officer, division and agency of this State is required to cooperate with the Commission and to furnish it with assistance necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

5. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 3rd day of
May in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and
Four, and of the Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Eighth.

/s/ James E. McGreevey
Governor

[seal]

Attest: