Navy Partners with University of Georgia to Boost Environmental Resilience at Installations

“Integrating natural systems into our definition of infrastructure strengthens our operational resilience,” announced Rear Admiral John Hewitt, Commander, Navy Region Southeast. “Our partnership with the University of Georgia underscores the importance of leveraging local expertise to fortify these critical assets, ensuring our Navy operations remain robust and adaptive in the face of evolving environmental challenges.”

The University of Georgia’s Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS) will now be a vital partner for Navy installations across the southeast. This agreement will allow these installations to utilize the university’s extensive knowledge in coastal resilience and climate change hazards. By enhancing the ability of the Department of the Navy (DON) to address environmental risks, this collaboration aims to fortify critical infrastructure both on and off military bases, thereby ensuring uninterrupted training and deployment capabilities.

“We work better when we work together. We are proud to partner with UGA to address installation resilience,” said Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment (ASN EI&E) and the Department’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “We’re working to build a climate-ready force, and that includes developing resilient infrastructure that gives our people, systems, and facilities every advantage as they complete the mission of protecting the nation.”

IRIS will play a crucial role in supporting Navy Region Southeast by developing adaptive solutions to climate-related challenges, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Their approaches to flood risk assessment and mitigation will protect naval bases from frequent and severe storms. Additionally, their efforts in creating energy-efficient infrastructures align with the DON’s Climate Action 2030 goals, helping to optimize energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of Navy operations.

Intergovernmental Support Agreements facilitate public-public partnerships, allowing state and local public entities to collaborate with Navy installations to provide necessary support services. All Navy Southeastern installations and their surrounding communities are set to gain from this beneficial arrangement.