US Air Force,
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.: A marketing firm might be tempted to call it “HQ-too” or “Bldg 1.5,” much like a movie sequel or a “lighter” version, but they'd be seriously off target.
The Air Force Space Command 2nd Headquarters, located in the newly renovated Ent Building on Peterson AFB is AFSPC Headquarters itself, just in an additional building. And that building officially opened for business here July 13.
AFSPC Commander Gen. Kevin P. Chilton presided over the ceremony and performed the ribbon-cutting honors.
“More than 300 Headquarters AFSPC Airmen, civilians and contractors were once dispersed throughout the city,” said General Chilton. “So having them here is good, not only from a security and force-protection standpoint, but it's (also more efficient) having these agencies on base.”
With the Hartinger Building (formerly known as Bldg. 1) over its capacity, Headquarters AFSPC had hundreds of people working from multiple off-base locations, which the command leased. Coupled with the reality that the Department of Defense recently mandated extensive force-protection measures be taken to protect its off-base locations, it was clear that a solution was needed.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command/ U.S. Northern Command Headquarters had moved out of the Ent Building and into its new headquarters building, leaving the Ent location vacant by 2006. A military construction project was approved July 2005 to upgrade the building and make it a viable home for AFSPC's use.
The Uni-Comm contractors present at the ceremony said they were ecstatic about moving onto the base.
“We're finally working for the Air Force in their house,” said Paul Viera, Uni-Comm Project Management Office. He and members of his team said they were also delighted to be closer to AFSPC Headquarters.
AFSPC formed a transition team that secured the Ent Building (Bldg. 1470) and transformed it into a 21st-century facility. Considering the original structure opened for business in 1969, some upgrades were in order. The team eventually led a $2.2-million effort in top-to-bottom upgrades and construction including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical, carpeting, ceilings, bathrooms, communications and security.
Careful planning and program streamlining on behalf of the transition team kept the costs down with $1.4 million in savings. Even with the upgrades, moving the off-base components on base will continue to save money in mission cost and leasing — about $1 million annually.
“When you consider the annual cost in leases and what we would have to do to protect our people if they continued to work off base, the savings are considerable,” said Col. Alvin Kemmet, AFSPC Director of Staff. “And that money will be directed back into other AFSPC funding priorities.”
The transition team that made it happen included Col. John Wilkinson, who recently retired from the Air Force; Chief Master Sgt. Cathy Redmond, who retired in April; Mariann Schofield, the command interior designer; Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Robinson, Ent Building manager assigned to the 302nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Tina Doherty, 302nd Security Forces Squadron; and Hector DeLaCruz, AMEC Earth and Environmental contractor; and the 21st Space Wing support agencies.
Vincent Childress, AFSPC multi-media illustrator, also played a role in upgrading the look of the Ent Building. He created modern, non-traditional displays throughout the building, featuring space professionals on the job – firefighters, security forces, satellite operators, and more.
“It's exciting,” he said, “because every time people go into the building, the space mission and those who carry it out are there for everyone to see.”
The Ent Building now serves as home to many AFSPC functions, but also to some Joint agencies and tenant units, which include:
* AFPSC Logistics and Warfighting Communications Uni-Comm Program Management Office;
* AFSPC Space Situational Awareness Integration Operations;
* AFSPC Missile Engineering Flight and several Engineering Branches
* AFSPC Space Analysis division;
* HQ AFSPC Office of Special Investigations Field Office, Region 8), OSI Detachment 809;
* 1st Space Transitional Space Analysis Staff;
* NORAD/USNORTHCOM's Joint Maritime mission
* U.S. Strategic Command's Global SATCOM Support Center (GCCS)
* Defense Information Systems Agency Field office
* GSSC Joint Multi-National Organization
* USSTRATCOM Joint Force Component Command / Future Operations Division
* USSTRATCOM System Center Policy and Programs (Command and Control Division)
To date the Ent Building has housed Headquarters Air Defense Command, HQ U.S. Space Command, HQ NORAD, U.S. Strategic Command-West and NORAD/USNORTHCOM.
