releases: http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393725
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| http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393725 | Upton makes strong case for Fort Custer to Missile Defense Agency head | 2014-09-16 | 2014 | 2014-09 | Republican | House | MI | Fred Upton | U000031 | upton.house.gov | legacy | To ensure our homeland remains protected in the event of an attack, the United States must be prepared for the worst, says Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who met today with Vice Adm. James D. Syring, the current director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Sitting in his Washington, DC office, Upton made a strong case for the selection of the Fort Custer Training Center of Augusta, Mich. Fort Custer is one of four locations being considered by the MDA for a potential interceptor site capable of shielding the eastern-half of the United States against threats posed by nations like Iran and North Korea. “Southwest Michigan not only has the infrastructure, resources, and leadership, we have the strong public backing to support this critical national security mission,” said Upton, who attended a public scoping meeting hosted by the MDA at the Sherman Lake YMCA in Augusta in late August. In addition to the support of the local community, Upton noted the selection of Fort Custer has the strong endorsement of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder as well as Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, the Adjutant General who commands the Michigan Army and Air National Guard units. “Governor Snyder and I are really pleased and appreciate the incredible support from the community and Congressman Upton to construct GBI at Fort Custer, should the decision be made to move forward,” said Maj. Gen. Vadnais. Building the missile defense system would infuse more than $3 billion into Southwest Michigan’s economy, resulting in the addition of 300 new direct jobs and as many as 1,800 indirect jobs. Upton recently submitted a letter in strong support of the selection of Fort Custer as part of the official public comment period. A copy of the letter may be found here, the full text of which follows immediately below. September 12, 2014 Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp Attn: MDA CIS EIS 6601 College Boulevard Overland Park, KS 66211-1504 To Whom It May Concern: As the Department of Defense studies potential locations for an East Coast missile defense site, I wish to express my strong support for the Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta, Michigan, as the future home of this important national security mission. Strategically located between Chicago and Detroit, the region surrounding Fort Custer boasts the robust critical infrastructure necessary to support the construction and long-term success of this mission, including surface and air transportation; energy; housing; and education. Positioned near two major interstates highways (I-94 and I-69), the location is a stone’s throw away from the 110th Airlift Wing at the W.K. Kellogg Air National Guard Base, which boasts a 10,000-foot runway capable of meeting Department of Defense needs. Presently home to the Michigan Army National Guard’s 177th Regiment, the Regional Training Institute, and the Augusta Armory, the Fort Custer Training Center is the heart of a community with a proud and longstanding history of supporting our military and its veterans. Public support for the selection of Fort Custer has been overwhelming at every level. Both our state’s Governor and Adjutant General are strong supporters and recognize the importance of this mission. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, and the Michigan State Senate (among others) have all passed resolutions formally endorsing the site, and the Michigan State House is expected to do the same. Fort Custer also has the backing of the region’s two leading economic development organizations – Southwest Michigan First and Battle Creek Unlimited – as well as the recent endorsement of the Kalamazoo Gazette – the area’s largest print and online news source. I recently attended the Missile Defense Agency’s public scoping meeting in Augusta, which was preceded by a tour of the two potential interceptor sites at the training center location. The meeting was well-planned, informative, and well-attended – MDA leadership and staff deserve to be commended for a job well done. I am one who has always recognized that providing for our national security and care of our veterans are priorities that rise above politics. I have never hesitated to stand by our Armed Forces to ensure that they have the training, resources, and funding necessary to succeed both here at home and abroad. I have also supported efforts to provide for greater collaboration with our first responders to prepare for any contingency. With growing threats from rogue states like Iran and North Korea – along with emerging threats posed by well-financed terrorist organizations like ISIS – we as a nation need to be prepared for the worst. The location of a future interceptor site is a decision that is vital to our national security and thus must be based on that above all else. That is why I am excited that we have such a top-notch site ready to go here in Southwest Michigan. I respectfully urge you to locate the next interceptor site at Fort Custer. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Sincerely, Fred Upton Member of Congress | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |