The Monmouth-Ocean Development Council recently led business and community leaders on a visit to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), where they met with senior military leadership and explored opportunities to support military families and address regional workforce challenges.
Military leaders at JB MDL held a briefing and discussion with the MODC group before providing a tour of key facilities, including Marine Aircraft Group 49 and the Medical Simulation Training Center. The MODC’s visit to the sprawling base comprising 42,000 acres in Ocean and Burlington counties also offered a firsthand look at the training, coordination, and expertise required to support military readiness.
“Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is one of the most important institutions in our region and a vital part of our nation’s defense,” said Thomas Gilmour, MODC Board President. “MODC plays an important role in bringing leaders together across business, government, and the nonprofit community so we can better understand the mission of the base and explore ways to strengthen the relationship between the installation and the communities that surround it.
“When those connections are made, they often lead to meaningful collaboration that benefits military families and the broader region,” Gilmour said.
The visit sparked conversations with military officials about how the regional business community can work more closely with the installation to address shared challenges and opportunities. One possibility is connecting military spouses with career pathways that provide training and certification for the in-demand jobs providing home care for seniors and veterans.
“Our partnership with the surrounding community is essential to the success of our mission,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Stefanovic, JB MDL and 87th Air Base Wing commander. “We thrive because of the strong relationships we’ve built with our neighbors. Together, we enhance readiness, support our service members and families, and strengthen the region we call home.”
As the nation’s only tri-service military installation, JB MDL represents both a cornerstone of national defense and an important regional partner. Strengthening the connections between military leadership, the business community, and civic organizations, creates new opportunities to collaborate on solutions that support military families, strengthen the regional workforce, and serve the broader community.
Many of the business leaders who participated in the March 6 tour of the military base said the experience reinforced both the scale of operations at the installation and the importance of continued engagement between the base and the surrounding community.
“For many civilians like myself, it is difficult to fully appreciate the scale of the work taking place at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst until you have the opportunity to see it firsthand,” said Howard Stein, owner of Home Helpers Home Care and a board member of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council.
“What makes engagements like this valuable is that they bring together leaders from the military, business community, and government to better understand the mission and work collaboratively on solutions that strengthen both the installation and the communities that support it,” Stein said.
