One Community. One Mission.

Vision

Building strong communities that support America’s military in every defense community/state in the nation.

Mission

ADC builds resilient communities that support America’s military. We are the connection point for leaders from communities, states, the military and industry on community-military issues by enhancing knowledge, information sharing, and best practices. With nearly 300 communities, states, regions, and affiliated industry organizations, ADC represents every major defense community/state in the nation.

Values

  • We are committed to our mission of education, conducting our business with the highest ethical standards, and ensuring our actions are transparent;
  • We are committed to creating great places for our service members, their families and veterans to live, work and play by building collaboration between states, communities and the military;
  • We believe in the importance of supporting communities and states when changes in military missions impact local and regional economies;
  • We value community‐military partnerships that promote the value of military installations, and strengthen communities and states through collaborative relationships and sustainable regional planning.

A panel discussion at the 2023 Installation Innovation Forum in Orlando, Florida.

Who We Are

Defense communities are the towns, cities, counties, regions and states that serve as home to our nation’s military missions, installations and industrial partners.  In some cases, there may be more than one jurisdiction that serves as the community for a base, mission or service members. While defense communities adjacent to major military installations are well known, there are hundreds of other communities that support smaller bases, missions, or serve as home to important DOD industrial base partners. What connects all defense communities is the importance of the local defense-related economy and their engagement in supporting our national security.

Fulfilling the mission of defense communities takes a network of organizations and people, although often times, one organization provides leadership for the community, region or state on defense issues. These organizations, commonly referred to as community-military partnering organizations, take different forms and sizes based on the needs of the community. Local governments or related organizations often serve this role, but they can also be managed by a local chamber or a standalone organization.

What We Do

Defense communities work to ensure our military missions are ready to meet the dynamic needs of our national defense through collaboration, advocacy and direct support. Building and sustaining partnerships that ensure coordination between base and community is a core function of defense communities, but their support is often more direct, including providing direct financial investment in infrastructure that supports the base. Defense communities also provide important services our military families depend upon, including schools, housing, healthcare and other social services that promote a high quality of life.

Tampa Bay celebrates their recognition as a Great American Defense Community at a Buccanneers NFL game in 2018.

2024 STRATEGIC GOALS

Share our knowledge and experience to advance policy and programs that support shared priorities of communities, states, installations, DoD, and military families.

Be the thought leader and resource for defense communities, DoD and those we collectively support.

Serve our members and advance our mission by enhancing ADC’s long‐term sustainability and capacity.

Advance key ideas and plans related to ADC’s 50th Anniversary Plan

LEADERSHIP

Karen Holt

President

Director,
Harford County Office of Economic Development

Karen Holt

President

Director,
Harford County Office of Economic Development

Thomas Ford

Vice President

County Administrator,
Grand Forks County

Scott Norton

Treasurer

Executive Director &
Chief Executive Officer,
TexAmericas Center

Bob Ross

Past President

Executive Director,
Connecticut Office of Military Affairs

Don Anderson

Director

Mayor,
City of Lakewood, WA

Brian Garrett

Director

Deputy Director for Military Affairs, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs

Kimberly Huth

Director

Executive Director of Military Affairs, St. Clair County, Illinois

Keith Klaehn

Director

Chair, Colorado Springs
Defense Mission Task Force

Harry Kleiser

Director

President,
SIA Solutions

Sal Nodjomian

Director

Chief Executive Officer,
Matrix Design Group

Stacey Shepard

Director

President,
Shepard Global Strategies, LLC

Lisa Swoboda

Director

Senior Director,
Military & Federal Affairs, State of Maryland

Jerrod Wheeler

Director

Superintendent,
Knob Noster Public Schools, MO

George Schlossberg, Esq.

Legal Counsel

Partner/Attorney,
Kutak Rock, LLP

Jerrod Wheeler

Director

Superintendent,
Knob Noster Public Schools, MO

George Schlossberg, Esq.

Legal Counsel

Partner/Attorney,
Kutak Rock, LLP

STAFF

Tim Ford

Chief Executive Officer

Matt Borron

Executive Director

Tim Ford

Chief Executive Officer

Matt Borron

Executive Director

Grace Marvin
Director of Communications

Tonya Burke
Director of Strategic Events

Maggie McAlexander
Director of Operations

Marcella Mathis
Director of Finance

Will Noonan
Creative Director

Emma Kelly
Program Manager

Emma Allen
Membership Director

Julia Hermsen
Graphic Designer

Isabel Zimmerman
Communications Coordinator

Mark Parrott
Communications Coordinator

Christina Renzetti
Program Coordinator

Kelsey Judd
Program Coordinator

Randy Ford
Editor, On Base Newsletter

ADC Committee/Council Roster

“P-3C Orion Returns From Final Deployment” Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Cuenca