Dec. 07--The Tennessee Air National Guard on Friday dedicated a $7.3 million civil engineering building that completes the 164th Airlift Wing's base at the southeast corner of Memphis International Airport.
All told, it took nearly a dozen years to negotiate, plan and carry out relocation of a World War II era base from a Democrat Road site that has since been folded into the FedEx Express world hub.
The dedication came a week after the unit's first C-17 Globemaster III arrived in Memphis on a loan from an air guard unit at McChord Field outside Seattle. The first of eight C-17s slotted for the Memphis base's new mission was sent to Jackson, Miss., for training of crew and support staff.
Commander Col. Mark Devine said the wing expects to begin flying Globemasters in April or May and should have four on hand by next September. The other four are slated for delivery after Oct. 1.
Five of the base's 10 C-5 Galaxies have been retired, and the other five will be relinquished as Globemasters arrive, Devine said.
The new base opened in 2008, but budget constraints in the $245 million project delayed the civil engineering building. The engineers responsible for maintenance, upkeep, utilities, renovation and firefighting facilities on the base were housed elsewhere until another congressional appropriation could be obtained for their building.
One of the engineering staff's next tasks will be carrying out about $5 million in modifications to the facility to accommodate the C-17s, said Col. Tracy Ruger, mission support group commander.
The Crump Firm was architect and Chris Woods Construction was contractor for the 25,000-square-foot building and a renovation and addition to the 5,500-square-foot fire station.
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, was on hand to help with the dedication. Cohen said some of the military's pricey projects to develop new aircraft and weapons systems seem more designed to benefit contractors than the national defense, but he's a staunch believer in investing in military personnel.
"We need to put our men and women in uniform first and foremost, and I pledge that I will," Cohen said.
Maj. Ronald Hawkins Jr. said the newest building is one of West Tennessee's most energy efficient buildings and the airport's first building with a solar power installation. The solar unit has a 65 kilowatt generating capacity.
Brig. Gen. Harry Montgomery, former wing commander, now chief of staff, air at the Tennessee National Guard, said, "This project completes a long road going back to 2001, to the beginning of a new base." He added, "I'm excited for the future that the C-17 holds."
Devine said the civil engineering building project began at a bleak time for the Memphis area economy and he likes to think it provided "a little bit of trickle into the Shelby County economy."
Woods said his company had previously steered clear of government jobs because of fears of red tape, but he was fortunate to get the work. "This project helped us and probably several subcontractors stay in business," Woods said. "It was a Godsend."
Copyright 2012 - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.
