President Obama and Governor Kaine visit construction site of a critical transportation project that will support the BRAC action at Fort Belvoir

OEA has always looked to assist communities impacted by Department of Defense (DoD) program changes. Founded in 1961, OEA has helped communities in all 50 states and major United States territories develop comprehensive strategies to adjust to defense industry cutbacks, base closures, force structure realignments, base expansion,  and incompatibilities between military operations and local development.

OEA is the DoD’s field organization responsible for supporting state and local governments to respond to major defense program changes. With offices in Washington, DC, and Sacramento, California, our staff members are available to assist local communities throughout the United States leverage the full capabilities of the federal government through the Defense Economic Adjustment Program and Economic Adjustment Committee (EAC).

OEA assists the military services to:

• Develop enduring relationships with states and communities
• Create compatible land use procedures in partnership with local communities,  allowing military services to conduct realistic testing and training
• Engage local community leaders to ensure services are available to military personnel and their families

OEA assists states and communities to:

• Use technical and financial assistance to plan and develop local adjustment strategies
• Engage the private sector in order to plan and undertake community economic development and base redevelopment
• Work with military departments in support of DoD missions

In today’s economic climate, OEA and federal government support is essential to communities nationwide as they cope with Defense program changes.

What OEA Can Do For You

OEA has an interdisciplinary staff that works hands-on with communities nationwide over several years to create a positive environment for economic growth, land use strategies, and an enhanced quality of life all through the integration of the military installation into the larger community. To better prepare the community for these transitions, we build and engage relationships with community members, private business, state governments, and the armed forces to ensure a successful transition.

We bring nearly a half a century of experience and best practices to coordinate federal government resources and solve complex problems.

OEA has the:

• Ability to effectively engage as a neutral facilitator to support positive interface among military departments and state and local governments
• Understanding of key participants and elements needed to support community economic development
• Ability to effectively coordinate federal assistance in support of defense-impacted state and local governments
• Ability to work with local communities and military installations to create a better, more diverse quality of life for all
• Understanding of comprehensive processes from the perspective of a variety of stakeholders

OEA Assistance Programs

The Defense Economic Adjustment Program, through a variety technical and financial assistance enterprises, helps communities respond to the following situations:

• Base realignments and closures (BRAC)
• Defense industry adjustment (DIA)
• Compatible Use (Joint Land Use Study [- JLUS])
• Mission Growth

OEA also serves as a focal point for transition assistance from other relevant federal programs that can be applied in a coordinated manner to plan and implement adjustment strategies.