Tuesday, March 08, 2005

President Nominates Anthony Principi To Lead Base Closings

President Bush plans to nominate former Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi to lead the independent commission charged with closing U.S. military bases this year, the White House announced Friday. Principi, a vice president of drug manufacturer Pfizer Corp. and a decorated Vietnam War veteran, once served as a chief counsel for the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He also has been a top official with defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Congress authorized the fifth round of Base Realignment and Closure last year. By March 15, the president must name the nine-member commission that will review a list of closures the Pentagon must propose by May. The president has two more panelists to nominate. Congressional leaders have submitted their six recommendations. All nine must be confirmed by the Senate. Principi, 60, is from California, the state that was hit the hardest in the previous four rounds of base closings.
Anthony Principi