JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Senior leaders from Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base (MCIEAST-MCB) Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River participated in the annual State of the Community luncheon, hosted by the Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce. The annual event addresses economic development, healthcare, education, military, local government and the positive impact of collaborative partnerships between the chamber of commerce, the military, local government and other community organizations in Jacksonville and Onslow County, North Carolina.
The panel discussed highlights and challenges over the past year as well as noting collaborative efforts that support the future of Onslow County and the city of Jacksonville.
U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., commanding general, MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune highlighted ongoing initiatives to modernize facilities, bolster readiness, and champion the well-being of Marines and their families while emphasizing the crucial role of the base's partnership with the community in emergency response.
This week both installations completed their annual destructive weather exercise, which included the mutual support of both installation Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) and the staff of the Onslow County EOC.
In addition to destructive weather events, Col. Garth Burnett, commanding officer, MCAS New River, detailed the recent support from the Onslow County EOC during an active shooter exercise that took place earlier this year.
Rizzo and Burnett joined the panel alongside four other leaders from the community including, David Heatherly, president of Coastal Carolina Community College, Dr. Christopher Barnes, superintendent of Onslow County Schools, Tim Foster, chairman of Onslow County Commissioners, Sammy Philips, major of the city of Jacksonville and U.S. Navy Capt Anja Dabelic, directors of Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune.
To view the full panel discussion, please click here: https://youtu.be/huzOeQSXl-Y