Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007
Asuntha Chiang-Smith likes to think big.
Complicated projects that involve hundreds and thousands of people make her feel at home. It’s been a calling for the Bowie resident, who has managed everything from economic interests in the Maryland Stadium Authority to a defense contractor’s rollout of new software to coordinate the Medicare system.
But this year, Chiang-Smith is facing her biggest project yet: preparing Maryland for an influx of more than 60,000 soldiers and their families starting next year under the military’s Base Realignment and Closure plan.
As executive director for a special state task force, the Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate is responsible for preparing a plan for building up roads, schools and homes, changing laws and smoothing out red tape for the BRAC influx by December. And she couldn’t be happier.
‘‘I go home every day feeling like I’m doing something I know is going to help ensure the stability of our economy,” she said.
Two years ago, Department of Defense officials announced a major shift in their bases to boost their ability to gather intelligence and fight terrorist threats. To accomplish its goals, the military will expand bases at Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground and other Maryland installations in the largest military buildup since the end of World War II.
But that leaves a lot of scrambling for Maryland. Last January, the General Assembly authorized creating a special subcabinet to examine BRAC issues, headed by Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. Chiang-Smith was then hired as executive director.
Since its inception, the group has traveled the region, meeting with local governments and businesses. Its membership includes the heads of 11 different state departments, from transportation to minority affairs. A big part of the job involves studying areas near each base and getting a list of needs from the Department of Defense.
‘‘Each base has its own challenges,” explained Chiang-Smith. ‘‘Some areas need transportation. Some need housing, and schools. A lot of them need a work force.”
The mother of three is used to working in a military setting. She’s the wife of a former Marine, whom she met when he saved her from being mugged at Union Station while in college.
‘‘I know that the wives have a big say,” she said.
She had a say when they chose Bowie as their home three years ago.
‘‘It’s always been a nice area,” she said.
The BRAC subcabinet will hold several more meetings, including a final one in Prince George’s County on Oct. 30. After that, the group has to prepare a detailed action plan for the General Assembly to take up in the 2008 session.
But the work doesn’t end there. Through 2011, the state will track how it is handling the influx of military growth, adjusting funding to areas where soldiers and their families settle.
Even though the soldiers are on their way, Chiang-Smith said the state has a chance to be prepared.
‘‘That’s what makes this great,” she said. ‘‘You know what’s coming, and you can plan for it.”
Early drafts of the state’s BRAC action plan will begin circulating in mid-November.
E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.
