INDIANAPOLIS (July 31, 2006) - Governor Mitch Daniels today was named the 2006 Public Official of the Year by a national defense trade association for his leadership in saving Indiana's defense assets during last year's base realignment and closure (BRAC) process.

"Through active attention to our opportunities, Indiana can play a much larger role," said Daniels. "Setting forth the case for new missions at Terre Haute and Fort Ben is no different than trying to persuade Honda or other private companies that Indiana is the right place."

The Association of Defense Communities (ADC), the national trade association supporting communities with active, closed and closing defense installations, presented the governor with the award at their national convention in Indianapolis.

"Gov. Daniels has shown to be a committed advocate for Indiana's defense communities and a forward thinking leader by creating a progressive, proactive partnership between the state's military communities and businesses to build a powerful economic development engine for Indiana," said ADC president Tom Markham.

In 2005, the governor organized Indiana's federal, state, local, public and private leaders to lobby decision makers throughout the Department of Defense on behalf of the state's defense assets - including Crane Naval Weapons Support Center near Bedford, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Lawrence, and Indiana's Air Guard Stations in Fort Wayne and Terre Haute. Both Governor Daniels and Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman personally presented Indiana's "case" at the highest levels of the White House, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Army and Navy, as well as the BRAC Commission.

"It's always awkward to be congratulated for simply doing your duty," said Daniels.

For more information on the conference and the Defense Community Awards, please visit www.defensecommunities.org/AnnualConference