3. The purpose of the Military and Defense Economic Ombudsman shall be to coordinate and implement a strategy to fortify and ensure the economic vitality of the United States military installations in this State and to improve the economic environment for the defense industry in this State, in the face of evolving defense needs, by fostering productive interactions between federal, State, and local governments and overseeing efforts to position the State’s military installations as hubs of development, innovation, and economic growth. It shall be the duty of the ombudsman to:

a. identify the strengths and vulnerabilities of, and threats to, the current and future viability of the State’s military installations in the context of changing defense plans and economic development needs;

b. evaluate, report on, and recommend strategies and best practices to improve economic outcomes for the State’s military installations and defense industry;

c. promote and facilitate a coordinated approach to economic development related to the State’s military installations and the industries that support them;

d. promote opportunities for defense industry investments, work to create defense industry clusters at each military installation, and recommend significant development projects that would support the State’s defense industry;

e. develop productive relationships with the various governmental, industry, and community stakeholders involved in promoting the success of the State’s military installations;

f. disseminate information on the attributes and benefits of the State’s military installations which make them attractive to current and future defense planning, business investment, and economic growth; and

g. undertake any other duty consistent with the ombudsman’s purpose and deemed appropriate by the Adjutant General.

L.2017, c.359, s.3.