Facilities asset management can mean many things to many people, covering the lifecycle of a facility from acquisition to disposal of real property. At Markon, we work with clients to manage specific aspects of asset management, and one example is our support of the Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) in managing their real estate transactions.
A Unique Asset Management Focus
MCICOM’s asset management branch consists of three key areas:
- Installation master planning
- Real property accountability
- Real estate management
Based at the Pentagon, MCICOM was established in 2011 to provide oversight, policy, coordination, and resource prioritization for Marine Corps installations across the country. By consolidating oversight at the headquarters level, MCICOM allows installations to focus on their primary operational goals. Since 2015, Markon has been embedded in the MCICOM asset management team, working specifically on real estate management and supporting the Marine Corps as they manage their real estate portfolio.
Related: Free Guide to Asset Management within Facility Programs
Real Estate Transactions for the Marine Corps
Real estate transactions within the Marine Corps are not your typical buying and selling of property. Instead, they usually involve land or facilities held at less than full ownership, often including leases, licenses, and easements, with occasional acquisition or disposal of property.
Marine Corps real estate transactions can generally be grouped into two categories:
- Instances where the Marine Corps is the lessee, using land outside the fence line
- Cases where the Marine Corps is the lessor, making their real property available to tenants
When the Marine Corps needs land or facilities beyond what’s available on base—for example, additional training grounds or temporary administrative space—they may lease property outside the base perimeter. In these cases, asset management and real estate specialists work closely with master planners, military construction personnel, and operational leaders to determine what will be needed in the short versus the longer term.
In situations where the Marine Corps serves as the lessor, discretion is exercised to lease space to tenants that can most benefit service members and their families. This might include leasing land to telecom companies to enhance communication capabilities or partnering with nonprofits to provide services to families. Although the Marine Corps decides on mission requirements, critical partners like NAVFAC, USACE, and GSA hold the contracting authority to execute these real estate transactions.
The Essential Role of Real Estate in Mission Flexibility
Effective real estate transactions are essential to military readiness, providing the flexibility to adapt to changing operational needs. Markon is proud to play a role in supporting the Marine Corps with these important decisions, ensuring that their real property portfolio aligns with both immediate and future mission requirements. Our longstanding partnership with MCICOM exemplifies how specialized asset management can directly support the strategic objectives of the U.S. military.
Join Markon at SAME SBC 2024
Markon’s commitment to supporting federal missions will be on full display at SAME SBC 2024, where we’ll highlight our work in asset management and critical infrastructure. We look forward to discussing secure facility development, infrastructure needs, and how we continue to support federal agencies with innovative solutions.
For more details about the event and our presence there, visit: markonsolutions.com/same-sbc
