AF, communities discuss future installation concerns Published June 25, 2015 By Scott Johnston Air Force Civil Engineer Center JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - LACKLAND, Texas -- Finding themselves "at a crossroads" communities with military bases attended this year's national summit to figure out how to move beyond the uncertainties of base closure and sequestration. More than 600 people from communities across the United States attended the 2015 Association of Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, D.C. Ms. Miranda A. A. Ballentine, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy, was a keynote speaker at the event and spoke about redefining the base of the future. "We have to sustain today's bases and we have to optimize our installations for the future," she said. While base closure was among the top concerns of the group, they were also exploring other paths to streamline and enhance military readiness at bases in their region. The summit's theme, "At A Crossroads" was addressed by Steve TerMaath, from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center. Although his talk focused on previous rounds of base closure, or BRAC, he urged communities to remain hopeful, should future rounds impact them. "Obviously it's a case by case basis, but when you look at the overall of the 40 installations that were closed, so far, you look at the statistics on that, there's more jobs at those installations than when they closed, there's more population, there's tax revenues, there's all those things going on," he said. During an instant poll of audience members, the majority said they actually prefer holding another round of base closure as opposed to remaining in the status quo, which was characterized by some as encumbered by sequestration and the hollowing out of the force. Additionally, eighty-six percent polled said Congress will approve a new BRAC round in five years.