May 7, 2007

Governor Kaine Appoints Experts To Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority

Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the appointments of Catharine M. Gilliam and Dr. Rex M. Ellis to the newly created Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority (FMFADA). Ms. Gilliam is Virginia Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association and is an expert in historic preservation. Dr. Ellis is Vice President for the Historic Area at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and is an expert in heritage tourism.

“Fort Monroe is a site of local, statewide, and national significance,” Governor Kaine said. “These appointments ensure that the FMFADA will have balanced representation from the Commonwealth, the City of Hampton, and outside experts. I am confident that this newly constituted board will secure an economically sustainable future for Fort Monroe that protects its special qualities.”

The General Assembly created the FMFADA in 2007 to ensure careful attention to environmental protection, historic preservation, economic sustainability, and public access in the reuse planning for Fort Monroe. The board consists of 18 members and includes seven non-legislative members appointed by the City of Hampton; two members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one of whom is the member in whose district Fort Monroe is located; two members of the Senate of Virginia appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, one of whom is the member in whose district Fort Monroe is located; two members appointed by the Governor, one of whom has recent and significant professional experience in the field of historic preservation, and one of whom has recent and significant professional experience in the field of heritage tourism; and the Secretary of Administration, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness, the Secretary of Finance, and the Secretary of Natural Resources, all of whom serve by virtue of their office with full voting privileges.