Pipeline ribbon cutting marks Wolf Pack progress, partnerships

Photo By Staff Sgt. Suzanna Plotnikov | Eighth Civil Engineer Squadron Red Devils pose for a picture in front of the Natural Gas Governor during the Natural Gas Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Nov. 15, 2021. The project was initiated in 2008 to address problems that many facilities experienced throughout the years and to improve the quality of life for members of the Wolf Pack. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzie Plotnikov)  

SOUTH KOREA

11.21.2021

Story by Staff Sgt. Suzanna Plotnikov 

8th Fighter Wing

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held here to recognize the installation of a natural gas pipeline, dedicated to providing reliable, sustainable and energy-efficient heating to buildings on the installation, Nov. 17, 2021.

The upgrade to infrastructure was initiated in 2008 as part of the Energy Savings Performance Contract to address problems many facilities experienced throughout the years, and ultimately improving quality of life for members of the Wolf Pack.

“This project is 13 years in the making,” said Col. Robert Bartlow, 8th Mission Support Group commander. “Hot water and heat is something our facilities have struggled with, and getting these natural gas boilers into these dorms are going to make a huge difference.”

The first phase of the project was underway in 2018, which included high efficiency LED lighting base-wide to improve energy efficiency. The current phase, the natural gas pipeline, was awarded in December 2020 and is now providing gas heating to two dormitories, housing roughly 450 Airmen.

“Transitioning the source over to natural gas corrects a soul-crushing issue where our defenders, maintainers and civil engineers, who are out making the mission happen, had to return to their dorms and take cold showers, or have cooling and heating systems break down,” said Col. John “Wolf” Gallemore, 8th Fighter Wing commander.

While construction for the project is not yet finished, the pipeline will grow to support four more dormitories, which are projected to be complete by the end of the year.

Gallemore expressed his gratitude to the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, the Gunsan City Gas Corporation, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the Honeywell team and other mission partners for their contribution in bringing the natural gas pipeline to fruition.

“We change out every year, but somebody had to provide the continuity and that’s what you [Honeywell] have done,” said Gallemore. “Here we are 13 years later, and it’s a testament to the determination to get after a problem that needed to be addressed.”

• Date Taken: 11.21.2021
• Date Posted: 11.22.2021 00:06
• Story ID: 409748
• Location: KR