Land Development

Solving the Puzzle of Facility Management for the Alaska Army National Guard

Pat Cotter Planning Program Manager pat.cotter@respec.com

Managing multiple facilities is never simple, especially when those properties span vast, remote regions like Alaska. For the Alaska Army National Guard, ensuring their properties align with mission-critical needs while maintaining efficiency and fiscal responsibility presents a unique challenge. With assets stretching from the southeastern Panhandle to areas above the Arctic Circle, the task requires precision, adaptability, and strategic foresight.

Enter RESPEC’s Real Property Development Plan, launched in September 2024. This year-long effort is a comprehensive initiative to address the Guard’s diverse facility needs while preparing for future operational demands.

Pat Cotter, RESPEC’s Planning Program Manager, emphasizes that the Guard’s needs aren’t just about square footage but each facility's utility relative to the Guard’s structure and mission. “Military funding is tightly connected to the accuracy of property data,” Pat notes. Yet, many facilities have outdated classifications or underused spaces, leading to potential funding losses.

In collaboration with Rubicon Planning’s Military Planning Specialists, the RESPEC team tackles this issue by combining legacy data cleanup with cutting-edge GIS analysis. By reviewing each property, identifying constraints like wildlife habitats or archeological significance, and consulting Guard personnel on anticipated force changes, we create a tailored blueprint for action.

"Our role is to be stewards of their facilities, ensuring every property supports the Guard’s mission."

— Pat Cotter

This stewardship goes beyond mere record updates. RESPEC paints a complete picture of the Guard’s assets by integrating smaller, previously independent plans like the Bryant Army Airfield, Camp Carroll, and Camp Denali area development plans.

This planning effort is more than a military solution—it’s a model for diverse clients. Whether school districts assess declining enrollments or hospital campuses accommodate telemedicine, detailed assessment and strategic planning principles apply universally. Pat explains, “The building blocks are similar across industries; the specifics change.”

Though the work may not involve high-profile projects like new hospitals or university expansions, its impact is significant. This plan identifies facility surpluses, deficiencies, and opportunities, offering a cost roadmap that helps the Guard secure funding for upgrades or environmental cleanup of decommissioned sites.

The Guard’s initiative, slated for completion by late 2025, exemplifies proactive planning, which ensures resources are aligned with current and future goals. It’s not just about knowing what you have but understanding how to optimize it for success.

RESPEC’s expertise in planning, coupled with our Alaska-specific experience, equips us to meet the unique challenges of operating in such a vast and varied landscape. By addressing today’s facility challenges, we’re helping clients—from the National Guard to local institutions—create a stronger, more efficient future.