DEPARTMENT: Government and Public Affairs (Office of Military &Veteran Affairs)
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: After-Action Report - Mayor Nirenberg’s October 2020 visit to the Pentagon
BACKGROUND:
On October 23, 2020 Mayor Ron Nirenberg; Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, President & CEO of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation; and Juan Ayala, Director of the Office of Military & Veteran Affairs, traveled to the Pentagon to advocate for issues important to Joint Base San Antonio and the San Antonio region. This was the Office of Military and Veteran Affair’s (OMVA) fourth visit with Mayor Nirenberg to the Pentagon. During visits to the Pentagon, OMVA schedules meetings with senior general officers or senior civilians within the military service departments in the Department of Defense (DoD). On these Pentagon visits, the Mayor and his team advocate for new military missions, highlight the City’s tangible actions that add military value to the bases and enhance operational readiness, and thank officials for their support of the City.
OVERVIEW OF OFFICIALS VISITED AND DISCUSSIONS
1) Lieutenant General Ronald Place, Director, Defense Health Agency (DHA)
a. Maximize DHA’s consolidated footprint in San Antonio
b. Continued support of the Secretary of the Army Designee (SECDES) Program
2) General John Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force (USSF)
a. Advocated for San Antonio siting of any USSF missions/organizations
b. Provided overview of San Antonio military community assets
3) Honorable James McPherson, Under Secretary of the Army/Dr. E. Casey Wdynski, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
a. Continuation/support of Secretary of the Army Designee Program (SECDES)
b. Advocated to bring 2022 and 2024 DoD Warrior Games to San Antonio.
4) Honorable Robert Salesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense/
a. Discussed continued/increased partnership/cooperation with the DoD in response to the COVID 19 crisis
5) Honorable Jennifer Miller, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Air Force for Installations
a. Advocated for HQ, U.S. SPACECOM or component parts to be sited in San Antonio
b. Discussed future growth of 16th Air Force’s information warfare missions
6) General Daniel R. Hokanson, Chief, National Guard Bureau
a. Advocated for additional National Guard missions at Martindale Army Air Field
b. Thanked NGB for decision to designate a State Partnership Program (SPP) between the 149th Fighter Wing and the Egyptian Air Force
7) General Charles Q. Brown, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force / Honorable Shon Manasco, Assistant Secretary Air Force
a. Advocated for HQ USSPACECOM or component parts to be sited in San Antonio
b. Advocated for San Antonio to host 2022/2024 Warrior Games
c. Advocated for growth of 16th Air Force’s information warfare missions
On December 9, the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs will brief the Intergovernmental Relations Committee on the Pentagon advocacy trip, takeaways, and action items arising from the October 23 visit.