Photo By Melanie Casineau | Representatives from MassDevelopment and leadership from the 104th Fighter Wing, pose...... read more read more
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BARNES ANGB, WESTFIELD, Mass.— Representatives from MassDevelopment visited the 104th Fighter Wing on July 29, 2026, to learn about the wing’s mission and review current and future infrastructure projects. The state agency’s visit highlights its ongoing mission to support the goals and growth of both civilian and military installations, especially those that are dual use, across the Commonwealth.
Formed in 1998, MassDevelopment partners with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth. According to the agency's website, Massachusetts is home to six military installations that provide more than 57,600 jobs, and the agency plays a vital role in supporting those military missions and the service members who carry them out.
Agency representatives attending the meeting included Navjeet Bal, president and CEO; Dave Abdoo, chief administrative officer and chief of staff; Anne Marie Dowd, director of the Military and Defense Sector Initiative, Environmental Services and Policy; and Kathleen Ferguson, principal at The Roosevelt Group.
Col. Michael Glass, 104th Fighter Wing commander, opened the visit with a mission briefing before detailing ongoing and future projects. Glass specifically highlighted the critical need for an F-35 Lightning II simulator facility as the wing prepares for its future fighter mission.
“We have done a great job maintaining what we have, now we need to focus on what we need, specifically the F-35 simulator,” said Glass. “We want to become a fully operational and capable base.”
Lt. Col. Jeremy Dugan, 104th Mission Support Group commander, then briefed the visitors on completed infrastructure achievements, such as the new Minuteman Gate and Taxiway Juliet. Looking to future requirements, Dugan explained that securing aircraft flow-through shelters is a top priority.
“Some of the new priorities we have is getting the aircraft flow through shelters that are needed to protect the F-35’s from New England weather,” said Dugan.
Daniel Shearer, Barnes Municipal Airport manager, concluded the briefings by detailing the airport's layout and ongoing joint military-civilian projects. Because the municipal airport shares its runway with Barnes Air National Guard Base, the two entities share critical support functions, including winter snow removal.
Following the briefings, the guests toured the installation to see the physical footprint of the discussed projects. Discussions during the tour focused on the construction of new airfield sunshades, state and local partnerships with the base fire department, and the proposed site for the F-35 simulator facility.
During the tour, Ferguson, who has worked for many years on military basing and bed down projects, emphasized the wing's strong position by noting that the most important hurdle has already been cleared because the wing has secured the F-35 mission.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2026 09:31 |
| Story ID: | 574791 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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