Update: Wing construction projects on track

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Leo Brown
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Several construction projects on Whiteman Air Force Base are moving closer to completion, the most visible of which is a new building for the 303rd Fighter Squadron. 

The building, which will be a state-of-the-art facility, is nearing 90 percent completion, according to Ken Nugent, the deputy base civil engineer with the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron. Located on Arnold Avenue, the building is between the control tower and the wing's headquarters building. 


The $8.3 million structure will offer sound deadening in its briefing room, security features and improvements in lighting, electrical, communications, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Col. Steve Arthur, who recently relinquished command of the 442nd Fighter Wing, said in an interview shortly before he left the wing, that the facility is designed to serve not only current fliers and their A-10s, but future pilots and aircraft as well.

"We tried to kind of look over the horizon, toward some of the security requirements of the F-35 (Lightning II aircraft)," the colonel said.

Mr. Nugent said that the building was "lagging just a little bit" behind schedule due to the weather, but that generally everything was on track for completion in March 2009.

Two other projects, mandated by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and worth $4.75 million, are the second of two munitions igloos and a facility in the wing's munitions area. According to Mr. Nugent, construction on both projects will begin this fall. 

"I think we have a good history here at Whiteman Air Force Base with the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron working hand in hand with the 442nd," Mister Nugent said. "We've developed a great relationship and we take the 442nd projects just as seriously as we take our own."

"I have a mission and these projects are associated with that mission," Colonel Arthur said. "It's just clicking right now. It's amazing to look at the work that's involved with all these construction projects, especially considering that (our wing) doesn't have a contracting agency. We have a lot of people in this wing who had to get smart outside their fields."

Particularly, the colonel said one key player was Lt. Col. Charles French, the deputy commander of the 442nd Mission Support Group.

"We're doing real well on our facility requirements and the reason is that Colonel French gets with the points of contact for each facility, gets paperwork in order for them - this is a huge requirement - and keeps things updated," Colonel Arthur said.

Colonel French, in turn, said several wing members have played critical roles in helping the projects develop. They included Lt. Col. Stephen Chappel, director of operations for the 303rd FS; Capt. Terrell Eikner, aircraft maintenance officer with the 442nd Maintenance Squadron; Chief Master Sgts. Carol Tripp, operations superintendent for the 303rd FS and Greg Wetzel, the aircraft armament systems superintendent with the 442nd MXS; Senior Master Sgt. Ken Blanke, a munitions storage supervisor with thr 442nd MXS and Tech. Sgt. Steve Miller, an aerospace ground equipment mechanic in the 442nd MXS.