Photo By Capt. Natasha Hilsgen | (From left) Col. Robert Hargens, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, Lt. Gen. L Scott Rice,...... read more read more
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LINCOLN, Neb, (Sept. 8, 2019) — Nebraska Air National Guard Airmen broke out scissors and cut the red ribbon as they celebrated the official opening of the new 155th Air Refueling Wing Headquarters, Sept. 7, at the Nebraska Air National Guard Base in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Among those who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony were U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska adjutant general, and Col. Robert Hargens, commander of the 155th Air Refueling Wing.
The renovation of Building 2945, which had previously served as the 155th Operations Group building, now provides the 155th ARW with a 21st Century facility that will sustain the organization’s mission for the next 30 years, said Lt. Col. Barry R. Veen, 155th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. Along with serving as the 155th ARW headquarters, the building now houses a variety of customer-oriented offices that are collectively called “Touch Services.”
The services include ID cards, financial benefits, family readiness, legal support and administrative support for Airmen, families and retirees.
“It’s great having a true headquarters building with touch services readily accessible to visitors,” said Hargens prior to the short ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The remodeling effort is a result of life cycle improvements to the 24-year-old building and systems. Building 2945 was built in 1995 and had no major renovations prior to the latest renovation, which started in December 2017 and was completed this past June. The project was one of several currently underway on the base including the major renovation of the unit’s main hangar and adjacent facilities.
Veen said the 155th ARW headquarters project maximizes the existing footprint of the facility by combining like functions, increasing efficiencies, enhancing the unit’s day-to-day mission and maximizing current infrastructure and facilities. The renovation also increased the building’s energy efficiency by 37 percent.
According to the building’s new residents, the changes are readily evident to everyone who enters the facility.
“It’s easy to find different sections and offices, and have everyone in one centralized location,” said Master Sgt. Naomi Saunders, 155th Force Support Squadron force management noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
The change also gives many of the Airmen, who previously worked in a different building, a radically new view of the base. The front side of the building looks out across the base, while the backside looks out across the fight line, allowing those who work in the rear of the building to periodically see the unit’s KC-135 Stratotankers take off and land through the work day.
“Pretty awesome to look out the window and see that [our aircraft], a real clear reminder about why we are doing this job,” said Maj. Jason Bergevin, 155th Air Refueling Wing deputy staff judge advocate.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2019 16:29 |
| Story ID: | 338891 |
| Location: | LINCOLN, NE, US |
| Web Views: | 267 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, RENOVATION: READY AND ABLE IN A 21ST CENTURY, by Capt. Natasha Hilsgen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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