S1E6 - DCIP, Climate Resilience and Biodefense

ADC Live Season Finale.First we talk to Sen. Jon Tester, Chair, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for an update on this year's budget and what it means for defense communities. New details about the Defense Community Infrastructure Program are expected to be released tomorrow, so join us live to hear the latest on this year's program! ADC is also sharing two big announcements: the release of a new guidebook for communities on meeting the challenge of climate resilience and the launch of a new recognition program that focuses on military family financial wellness.

First, we talk to Vice Admiral Yancy B. Lindsey for updates on the Navy’s basing strategy and how installations and communities are preparing for extreme weather conditions in the future. Then we speak to Lieutenant General Douglas Gabram about the possibility of an armed forces COVID-19 vaccination mandate, plus the latest on efforts to improve housing assets for Army families. Not only is Mother’s Day around the corner, but May is also Military Family Appreciation Month! ADC welcomes the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouses of the Year®to the studio– and we talk spousal employment, maintaining mental and physical wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some creative ways military ball season looks different this year.

We speak with Paul Cramer, Principal Deputy Assistant of Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (Installations) about how priorities have shifted under the new administration and explore how communities can get involved with new initiatives in 2021 and beyond. Then, a familiar face to ADC, Ivan Bolden joins us to talk all things IGSAs. We discuss the new pilot program in the FY21 NDAA that calls for installations to retain no less than 25% of savings realized from IGSAs and how this might play out at the installation level. PLUS! A special Earth Day report from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on how the base and community are preparing for climate change.

President Biden has introduced his $2 Trillion infrastructure package, but what does it mean for defense communities?  We speak DCIP-champion, Rep. Derrick Kilmer (WA-6) who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.Jennifer Miller, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy joins us live in the studio. From basing decision to new priorities, its an update on all things Air Force. April is Military Saves month. We’ll dig into what financial wellness means for military families with Jim Kim from First Command Bank and hear about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on spouse employment and savings plans. Installation resilience was front and center at a hearing on the Hill last week and we break it down with top experts and share what you need to know.

This week on ADC Live we speak to Patrick O’Brien of the newly-named Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation for an in-depth interview. Then Politico’s Bryan Bender joins us for a conversation with former Army Secretary and now Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association, Eric Fanning on the future our defense economy. Plus we chat with Trent Edwards at the Montgomery Chamber to hear how Alabama is building up their defense sector and big changes taking place in his state.And, in our reoccurring segment Headlines Powered by On Base, we cover the Army’s new arctic strategy, utilities privatization and the Texas Freeze, and the latest on DoD’s Budget battles.All this and more on Episode 2 of ADC Live.

Welcome to ADC Live, a new venture by the Association of Defense Communities (ADC). If you missed the live broadcast of ADC Live, catch up with the ADC Live podcast.Arron Mehta, of Defense News, discusses the transition updates in DoD. From the appointment process to exciting new nominees, get the latest scoop from DC.During headlines powered by On Base, get the most up-to-date coverage on stories from around the country. Vaccines are rolling out, but are service members taking them? Hear from expert Todd Harrison of Center for Strategic and International Studies on when to expect President Biden’s budget and what might be contained in it.In conjunction with the release of ADC’s report Understanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Defense Communities, hear how Northern Virginia is leading the way on engaging its military community on the topics of race and inequality.The Texas Freeze impacted so many, including Fort Hood. The Garrison Commander will speak to resilience and how the base and its community were impacted. Jonathon Monken at Converge Strategies and John Conger, Director of the Center for Climate and Security then give us a more national perspective on exactly what went wrong.Finally, hear our first, State Update. Statehouses are the country are drafting military-friendly legislation, but what are the most important bills to track? Michael Behm of Stateside Associates gives us an inside look.All this and more on Episode 1 of ADC Live, broadcast from downtown Washington, D.C.