By Natela Cutter
DLIFLC Public Affairs
MONTEREY, Calif. – Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl delivered opening remarks at a meeting at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Aug, 22, sharing his thoughts with Team Monterey members, a gathering of local Department of Defense organizations and Monterey County representatives.
“Take advantage of other people’s talents. Come together and find that common ground,” he urged, adding that cooperation between the community and military organizations saves money and enhances community relations. Dahl said it was his second visit to Monterey, where he was impressed by the “Monterey Model,” whereby the City of Monterey provides maintenance services to several local DoD organizations.
“This is such a good model,” he said, explaining that it is his responsibility to examine innovative cooperation models between the military and civilian organizations and then try to have similar models implemented elsewhere. “It is important that we focus on what we do best, and let others do what they know best.”
The Team Monterey group, founded by former Congressman Sam Farr, is now headed by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who is interested in facilitating communication and cooperation between the entities in his district. Dahl, who is in charge of 75 active military installations under U.S. Army Installation Management, or IMCOM, encouraged participants to seek ways to improve cooperation that would benefit the entire community.
Organizations represented included the Naval Postgraduate School, the Fleet
Numerical Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coastguard and Defense Manpower Data Center, alongside representatives of local cities in the Monterey county region.