BOSTON – Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray has signed an executive order establishing the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, which will engage state agencies to work directly with stakeholders to develop and implement actions that will support military bases across the state.

Murray will chair the task force. The group will work towards completing a comprehensive strategic plan in the coming months.

In a news release, Murray highlighted the announcement last month that the U.S. Department of Defense announced a plan to reduce federal defense spending by approximately $500 billion over the next decade as a result of federal deficit- reduction negotiations.

The department said that cuts would be achieved in part by reducing total force numbers and relying on technological advances to build a more streamlined military. The Pentagon also requested that Congress authorize a Base Realignment and Closure Commission to recommend the closure or consolidation of select military bases across the country. •