MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Several dozen elected officials and town managers representing Onslow County and its municipalities joined top military leaders for an annual luncheon hosted by the base that featured briefings and discussions covering mutual areas of interest at Marston Pavilion yesterday.
Led by the county’s commissioners and board chairman Tim Foster, representatives included mayors, council members, and managers from Jacksonville, Richlands, Swansboro, Surf City, North Topsail, and Holly Ridge.
The Commanding General of II Marine Expeditionary Force, Lt. Gen. Calvert L. Worth, Jr., Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Commander, Col. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., and Marine Corps Air Station New River’s Commanding Officer Col. Garth W. Burnett were among the noteworthy military attendees along with numerous senior officials and staff members.
Guests were provided a general orientation on the history, mission, and operational activities of the command and offered various opportunities to work together in ways that benefited both the installations and the community writ large.
Rizzo praised the community’s sizeable representation at a recent security exercise held on base involving various state, county, and local police officers and emergency responders. “There were no less than 20 uniformed [civilian authorities] in the room talking about the problem sets we’re going to have to face together when there is a situation in the world that requires us to ramp up our force protection measures.”
Civic leaders were also educated on installation resiliency initiatives and the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) which is offering approximately $100 million in federal funding to support enhancements near installations that provide military value, installation resiliency, or quality of life for military families in Fiscal Year 2025. The 2023 refurbishment of the runway at Albert J. Ellis airport in Jacksonville was cited as a prime example of a successful DCIP project that qualified for $2 million in federal support.
Foster emphasized that the communities surrounding military installations owe much to the warfighters who put their lives on the line for the nation. “You’ve got to know that when [your Marines] are [deployed], the community that you live in is supporting your families.”
As the top Marine in command of more than 38,000 active duty service members, Worth expressed his gratitude for the attendees’ contributions to their readiness. “Your leadership is absolutely essential to our ability to generate combat ready formations to respond to the nation’s bidding in harm’s way.”