FACES OF TYNDALL; Program Management Office

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dylan Auger
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Col. Lori Walden, Tyndall Air Force Base Program Management Office director for reconstruction, has been in the U.S. Air Force for more than 28 years and is currently here on a temporary duty from her home base, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

The PMO’s mission is to repair, reshape and rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base to support both short-term resumption of mission operations and long-term development of Tyndall as the Air Force model “installation of the future.”

“We’ve been working on multiple repair projects for the facilities on Tyndall that were damaged but able to be saved, while concurrently planning and programming for projects for the rebuild efforts,” said Walden.

Walden said although she is a reservist, she has been able to become part of the team at Tyndall to help the transition from the previous PMO director to the incoming PMO director.

“From the minute I arrived, I’ve been welcomed as part of the active duty staff,” said Walden. “Tyndall has a strong leadership team, and I’m blessed to be able to serve with them.”

It is uncommon for stateside bases to be built or rebuilt, and Tyndall is the first base being rebuilt in more than 60 years, Walden said.

“Tyndall is unique because of the geographic location and critical missions, to include the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, 1st Air Force, Air Battle Manager school, and the Weapons Evaluation Group,” said Walden. “The speed at which we are doing this rebuild is remarkable, and the professionals who have rotated in to help in the rebuild have been phenomenal.”

Walden appreciates the opportunity she has had to assist in the rebuilding process of Tyndall.

“To be the PMO director is the opportunity of a lifetime for a civil engineer officer, it’s certainly not something I ever dreamed of doing,” said Walden.

Tyndall is pressing forward with the rebuild and has goals to be a model base paving the path for other bases to follow.

“The goal is to have the base ready when the first F-35 aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Tyndall,” continued Walden. “We are making this base resilient, sustainable and adaptable for the next 100 years.”

Walden is originally from the state of Virginia and graduated from Virginia Tech.

In addition to being a service member, she enjoys hiking, camping, sewing and spending time with family.