Tyndall operations facility undergoing renovations, upgrades

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Andrea Valencia
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A Pensacola construction company was awarded a $1 million contract to repair an F-22 Raptor squadron operations facility.

American Contractor and Technology, Inc. won the contract September 2011 and began construction March 2012. The project is scheduled for completion Nov. 21.

The project is a complete renovation of the former 95th Fighter Squadron building, which has sat vacant since the squadron was inactivated in 2010. The building will house the new combat-coded F-22 squadron, scheduled to arrive next spring. A portion of the incoming Reserve unit, the 44th Fighter Group, will also be housed there.

"The whole building is getting a face lift," said Tony Simmler, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron project manager. "We had to take all the security concerns into consideration."

The renovations to the interior of the facility include required upgrades necessary for security certification. Special attention was placed on secure briefing areas and a special compartmented information facility and sound attenuation throughout the building.

With renovations nearing completion, Tyndall officials are looking forward to the addition of the new squadron and the rewards of mission accomplishment.

"Our mission is to train and project unrivaled combat power," said Col. Charles Corcoran, 325th Operations Group commander. "We need a quality facility to assist us in completing that mission and I look forward to the finished project."

Not only does the project benefit Tyndall, but the work has created at least 30 new jobs in the area. ACT foreman, Chuck Solenger, said the majority of the employees working on the renovations were locally hired.

"We have a few contractors from Pensacola, but prefer to hire most of the workers locally," said Solenger.

Tyndall will undergo a transition from Air Education and Training Command to Air Combat Command Oct. 1. The change requires adding additional aircraft, facilities and support personnel to the installation.