Directors Corner November 2023

by | Nov 9, 2023 | Main

Director’s Corner

On November 11, 2023, we will take time to celebrate Veteran’s Day and reflect on the significance of this holiday. It is important to celebrate Veterans Day each year because it allows us to give thanks to the men and women who have served in our military. To all our Veterans – Thank you for your courage, strength, and dedication to keeping us safe! We recognize and thank you for your service, and for your sacrifices. We are forever grateful.

Compatible Lands Foundation’s Newest REPI Partnership in Alaska!

F-35A Lightning II, U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cedrique Oldaker

CLF and Eielson Air Force Base recently finalized a REPI Program Partnership Agreement for this critically important military base located southeast of North Pole, Alaska. CLF looks forward to working with Eielson AFB to strengthen military readiness and resilience in the Arctic Region. In addition to Eielson AFB, CLF is the REPI partner at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, and US Army Garrison Alaska in Fairbanks, which includes Fort Wainwright, Fort Greeley, and associated training areas. With the addition of Eielson AFB, CLF is now a REPI Partner for all of DOD’s REPI programs in the State of Alaska.

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Partnership Finalized

CLF and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma reached agreement on a multi-year Encroachment Protection Agreement in September 2023, becoming CLF’s second USMC REPI Partnership. CLF is excited to partner with MCAS Yuma to strengthen military readiness and resilience through this REPI partnership. With access to more than one million acres of bombing and aviation-training ranges and excellent flying weather, MCAS Yuma supports 80 percent of the Marine Corps’ air-to-ground aviation training and CLF looks forward to ensuring this critical training continues. A kick-off meeting is planned for mid-November.

F-35B Lightning II, U.S. Marine Corps photo by LCpl Elizabeth Gallagher

Alaska Defense Forum

CLF Director of Military Partnership, Dan Chapin (2nd from left) participates in a DOD REPI Panel.
CLF staff participated in the Alaska Defense Forum, held in Fairbanks, AK in August. Over two days participants discussed a wide range of issues relating to the military in Alaska, including Alaska’s strategic importance to national defense. CLF participated in a panel discussion on the REPI program and partnerships with other federal agencies in Alaska. CLF staff also attended a visit of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility by military staff members from the OSD REPI and AFCEC offices. The Tunnel is an active underground laboratory used for a variety of unique permafrost research programs.

Permafrost Tunnel entrance. Left to right – Matt Sprau, US Army Garrison Alaska; Darren Lilley,
CLF Alaska Program Manager; Mary Nixon, AFCEC; Sarah Jenkins, Contract Support to the OSD REPI Team; Dan Chapin, CLF Director of Military Programs.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 and is a day that encourages people to do good. In 2023, November 28th is designated as Giving Tuesday. Like many non-profit organizations, CLF relies on the generosity of passionate people. On this Giving Tuesday please consider donating to CLF. Your donation is tax-deductible, and the support ensures that CLF can continue its important work. Donations are accepted throughout the year if you are unable to donate on Giving Tuesday.

Your donation can be made through the below methods:
Compatible Lands Foundation webpage: https://www.compatiblelands.org/donation
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/2023846

If you would like to donate via a check, it can be mailed to the following address:
Compatible Lands Foundation
500 S. Lynn Riggs #333
Claremore, OK 74017

Welcome New Team Members!

James (Jim) Cannizzo.

Texas REPI Program Subject Matter Expert. Jim is providing technical and legal support primarily associated with REPI agreements and projects in Texas. Immediately prior to joining CLF, Jim served as a Senior Attorney-Advisor in the Office of The Judge Advocate General, Department of the Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, providing legal advice to Air Force attorneys at all levels of command and to Air Force engineers at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) on planning documents for Air Force projects in the United States and overseas. Jim retired in 2005 as an active-duty lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps after over 20 years of service. From 2005 to mid-2019 Jim was a civilian attorney for the Army at Fort Sam Houston, Camp Bullis and Camp Stanley. Jim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from New Mexico State University, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree in Environmental Law from George Washington University. Mr. Cannizzo is licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico.

Mollie Walton, PhD.

Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Climate Resilience & Natural Infrastructure Program Manager. Mollie is supporting the Camp Bullis REPI Challenge initiative to advance natural infrastructure projects. Mollie is the fourth generation of a Texas cattle ranching family. She graduated with a degree in Biology from Trinity University in San Antonio and with a PhD in Biology from the University of Dayton in Ohio. Mollie is a restoration ecologist who has been fortunate to work with some of the best erosion control and restoration experts in the western United States. She has over 30 years of experience with onthe-ground restoration as well as mining reclamation, ecological monitoring, consulting, and research. Since 2006, Mollie has worked in northern New Mexico, shepherding ecological projects on tribal, private, and federal lands in collaborative land stewardship. She has planned, facilitated, and presented numerous workshops in New Mexico and Texas, and has produced technical documents designed to share information with landowners and managers.

Tim Melnick.

Alaska Assistant Program Manager. Tim is supporting implementation of REPI projects and activities at Eielson Air Force Base, US Army Garrison Alaska, and Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson. Before joining the CLF Team, Tim worked for the National Park Service in Denali National Park with the Alaska Regional Communications Center. Prior to that, he worked for Northern Arizona University for nine years in various roles managing programs for First Generation and low-income students. He also has experience working in Washington D.C. with multiple non-profits. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences & Policy from Northern Arizona University as well as a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University. While living in Alaska, Tim enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, rock climbing, and mushing sled dogs with his wife and 18-month-old son.

“We are excited to have Jim, Mollie, and Tim joining the CLF Family. Their extensive and diverse backgrounds complement those of the current CLF Team and will help provide even better support to our REPI program partnerships across the country”, said Joe Knott, CLF Executive Director.

As always, we appreciate your support and continued interest in our work. For additional information on CLF, please visit us at: www.compatiblelands.org.