The Connecticut Office of Military Affairs has received the 2014 Member of the Year Award from the Association of Defense Communities.

The executive Director of the office, Bob Ross, accepted the award earlier this month at the Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, D.C.

"Bob is a dedicated member of our association and demonstrates the kind of leadership that supports his state and its communities but also those across the country," said the association's former president, Bob Murdock, in a press release. "It's forward looking organizations like the Connecticut OMA that have made our association a forum for 35 years for bringing together communities, states, organizations and partners around our common goal."

The state office was created in 2007 after the 2005 base realignment and closure round in which the Department of Defense recommended closing the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton Since then, the office has coordinated the state's initiative to enhance the value of the base.

"We are fortunate to have a governor and lieutenant governor who are personally involved in the things we do to support our defense communities," Ross said.