With the grim prospect of another military base closing program hovering over Congress, the state yesterday kicked off its fight to protect its six active military bases and the thousands of government and private sector jobs they provide.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray yesterday created the Commonwealth Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, an interagency committee that will try to show the federal government why the state’s bases are indispensable to national security and the local economy.

“It is critical that we retain and promote the operations and missions at all of our military installations,” Murray said — including the Army Natick Soldier Systems Center.