11 Air Force agencies to colocate

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vanessa Young
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) --  Upon completion of an estimated $65 million renovation, a building here will house more than 2,800 workers from 11 Air Force agencies.

Various agencies including the Air Force Real Property Agency, the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, the Air Force Center for Engineering, and the Environment and the Air Force Services Agency will now be colocated at the Port San Antonio, formerly Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

The building was previously used for weapons storage during World War II and later as a shelter for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

AFRPA officials are the first new tenants to move into the quarter-mile long building after the renovation.

As the Air Force's provider of real property management, AFRPA members work closely with officials from the AFCEE to complete their mission and now will work down the hall from members of that agency.

"Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment is our execution agent helping us do every aspect of our job, said Bob Moore, the director of AFRPA. "We expect working here with AFCEE will provide a level of synergy that didn't exist at any other locations."

According to Steve TerMaath, the chief of the Base Realignment and Closure program management division, as AFRPA officials transfer property to the local redevelopment areas, the BRAC group at AFCEE will be picking up some of the environmental functions AFRPA had performed.

Even though AFRPA officials transfer properties Air Force officials still may have environmental functions and activities that continue on for many years to protect the health and the environment of the people who now have that property.

Now that they are working in close proximity, AFRPA and AFCEE officials can work together to get information out in a far more effective and efficient manner in supporting the communities that now have the Air Force properties, Mr. TerMaath said.

"Our move into the newly renovated facility provides the Agency team with new office space and equipment and colocates the Agency with many other Air Force organizations, which will result in improved support to the Air Force and the local community," Mr. Moore said.