AETC awards Sheppard $10.5 million

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Meredith Dilley
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Brig. Gen. Michael Fantini, 82nd Training Wing commander, announced last week that Sheppard Air Force Base would receive more than $10 million in funds from Air Education and Training Command to support several demolition and renovation projects on the base, reinforcing the Cost Conscious Culture, or C3, at Sheppard.

Sheppard won more than 47 percent of the $22 million in total funds given out by AETC, competing with bases such as Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

The funding is the result of an Air Force-wide initiative to reduce 20 percent of the square footage in the Air Force by 2020. In doing so, bases inherently reduce overall energy and maintenance costs by creating a more efficient use of space.

AETC, therefore, created the "Demo/Consolidation focus fund" to award bases with plans to renovate and consolidate. Sheppard was able to secure $10.5 million of these funds because of its ability to articulate the strategic needs of the base to AETC.

"The goal is to tear down the large, underutilized buildings with high energy costs, and to put people in new or renovated facilities," says Mark McBurnett, 82nd Civil Engineering Squadron director.

The 82nd CES has finished a list of projects, many of which involve relocating personnel from old, deteriorated buildings to renovated ones.

"This will reduce the bottom line for base utility dollars as we reduce our footprint and energy payments," McBurnett added.

Also included in the funds is a $500,000 allocation for phone and internet relocation, which will remove the obstacles associated with changing numbers and moving lines, allowing the relocation to move along smoothly.

The $10.5 million also addresses several parking lot renovations, which will make them compliant with Air Force standards. 

The 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs staff is divided into three separate buildings across the base. The new funds include an allocation for the renovation of building 1917, which has enough floor space to fit the entire staff.

"Public affairs has been separated in three locations since we merged with the audio-visual office," says George Woodward, 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs chief. "Being together will improve our effectiveness and enable our mission to run more smoothly."

The 82nd Contracting Squadron will be allocating the funds to individual projects this week, prior to the close of the fiscal year.

The projects will begin this fall, beginning with the renovation phase. Personnel will then transition to their new locations, at which time the old buildings will be demolished.