Governor Names Wood to Commission Studying Sequestration's Effects

Gov. Bob McDonnell has created a new commission to examine the impact of federally mandated budget cuts on the commonwealth and has appointed Old Town Alexandria resident Bob Wood to the team.

The new Commission on Military Installations and Defense Activities will examine the “indiscriminant defense budget cuts due to sequestration,” which are expected to have a “potentially devastating impact in Virginia,” according to Executive Order No. 60 (2013).

The order says that it is estimated Virginia could lose about 82,000 direct jobs at federal agencies and contractors and an additional 82,000 indirect jobs supported by business and personal spending. Northern Virginia is expected to absorb more than 60 percent of these losses, Hampton Roads about 20 percent and metro Richmond about 12 percent.

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The governor’s order says the commission will help the commonwealth be proactive in identifying appropriate strategies to retain the military and federal facilities in Virginia.

Lieutenant General (USA-Ret) John R. (Bob) Wood told Patch the group's focus will be on preserving Virginia jobs, military infrastructure and defense sector business as well as developing and refining strategies that preserve and promote Virginia’s role in keeping the nation safe and secure.

Wood, a graduate of T.C. Williams High School, has a distinguished career in the military and was working at the Pentagon as a top U.S. Army strategic planning on Sept. 11, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and elsewhere in the United States.

• See Wood Honored to Remember September 11

"I look forward to contributing to this work and helping the commonwealth plan for its future," Wood said of his new appointment. "It is an honor to serve with this distinguished group."

During his military career, Wood also served in command and staff positions from company to division in units stationed in the United States, Germany and Korea. He commanded troops in combat during Operation Desert Storm and served as chief of staff for a major NATO headquarters in Bosnia. As a general officer, Bob commanded the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea followed by duties as the deputy commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command.

In this job, he supervised daily operations of the military’s largest joint headquarters responsible to provide trained and ready joint forces to recent wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and other worldwide missions.

Wood ran for City Council last year as a Republican but did not win a seat.

• See Bob Wood to Run for City Council
• See
• See Council Candidate Wood Calls for a 'Reset' to City Hall

He also was a member of Alexandria's Waterfront Planning Workgroup and co-authored a report on that group's recommendations regarding the city's redevelopment of its riverside.

• See Waterfront Work Group Releases Final Report

The commission is tasked with several responsibilities related to the commonwealth’s dependence on the federal military, including evaluating data and recommending strategies for protecting facilities, preventing their closure and promoting businesses, among many other things.

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