The Pentagon, nearing a May 16 deadline for Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, has established a joint task force charged with managing communications for the politically charged process.

Dick McGraw, the special assistant to the defense secretary for BRAC, has been named to lead the "Task Force BRAC." In that capacity he will report to Michael Wynne, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

The goal is to "efficiently execute the legislative and public release of the BRAC recommendations" and coordinate a “rollout” plan with the services and the Joint Staff, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz writes in an April 18 memorandum establishing the task force.

"All closure and realignment announcement communications with Congress or the press and/or any press release or communication on basing covered by or exclusive of the BRAC statute shall be coordinated with TFBR prior to release," the memo states.

McGraw is a former principal deputy under secretary of defense for public affairs. His task force will include representatives from the services and other military departments as well as staff members from the Pentagon's legislative and public affairs offices.

Wolfowitz says the staff will be in place until June 17.

-- Daniel G. Dupont