February 20th, 2004

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS AT THE OFFICE OF MILITARY BASE RETENTION AND REUSE

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of James Spagnole as director of the Office of Military Base Retention and Reuse and Major General (Ret.) William Jefferds as special advisor to that office.

"I have the utmost confidence in James' and William's abilities to ensure that California presents the strongest possible case during the next round of the Defense Department's Base Closure and Realignment," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Their knowledge of the military infrastructure in our state and experience with the BRAC process are vital resources as California works in a united manner to keep our bases open and jobs in California."

Spagnole has been assistant secretary for the Office of Military Base Retention and Reuse and special assistant to the secretary at California EPA since 1999. Prior to this he was director of communications at CalEPA from 1998 to 1999. Spagnole was in private practice as an attorney-at-law from 1993 to 1998, and during this period served as president and CEO of Cityscapes, a realty development company, and as president of Patriot Products. Spagnole also has 10 years of experience in the federal government. From 1989 to 1993 he served at the Department of the Interior as acting assistant secretary, principal deputy assistant secretary, director of the Office of Congressional and Legislative affairs, and legislative counsel. Spagnole was on the staff of the Secretary of the Navy in 1989, and director of the Reserve Policy Branch for the Chief of Naval Operations from 1983 to 1988. He worked as an attorney from 1975 to 1983 and retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve with the rank of captain. He is a member of the California State Bar, the California Supreme Court Bar, and the U.S. District Court and Supreme Court Bars. Spagnole, 59, received his law degree from the University of the Pacific and his Bachelor's degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a resident of Sacramento and a registered Republican.

Jefferds served until recently as director of the Department of General Services. He served as senior military advisor to the Governor and director of the Office of Military Base Retention and Reuse from 2000 to 2003. Jefferds was special assistant to the chief at the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon from 1990 to 2000, and deputy adjutant general for the California Army National Guard from 1986 to 1989. He worked as a teacher and administrator in the Alum Rock School District in San Jose from 1952 to 1986, including serving as superintendent from 1967. Jefferds is currently an advisory member of the Association of the United States Army and a member of the board of directors for the National Teen Leadership Program. He formerly was president of the National Guard Association of California and national secretary of the National Guard Association of the United States. Jefferds, 74, received his doctorate in education from the University of California, Berkeley and his Bachelor's degree from San Jose State University. He is a resident of Folsom and a registered Republican.

The Office of Military Base Retention and Reuse was created in 1999 and charged with developing a strategic plan for state and local defense retention and conversion efforts, recommending specific retention programs to the Legislature, and providing technical assistance to communities with potential base closure activities. The Office of Military Base Retention and Reuse also serves as a clearinghouse for information on retention and conversion efforts throughout the state and coordinates local and state efforts towards base retention.

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