|
Base salutes arrival of new program, jobs DAHLGREN Aegis facility houses 346 workers
Dahlgren welcomes Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program into a new $33 million facility
By COREY BYERS
Date published: 10/23/2007
Rear Adm. Brad Hicks broke open a bottle of Newport brut champagne yesterday morning, but he didn't bother popping the cork.
Hicks commissioned a new office building at the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren by christening an anchor near its front entrance.
Between 300 and 400 guests attended the official opening of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program's new $33 million home. Hicks serves as the program director for the command, which relocated from Crystal City in August as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decisions.
The two-story, 70,000- square-foot facility will house 346 military, civilian and contract employees. It features a fitness room, personal offices, conference rooms and a movie-theater style auditorium.
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is the newest of six commands on the King George base, which now houses more than 8,000 workers.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry "Trey" Obering III, director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and keynote speaker for the ceremony, said other agency programs are located in Huntsville, Ala., and Colorado Springs, Colo.
The agency oversees the development of missile defenses using land, air, sea and in-space-based technologies.
In his address, Obering said Aegis plays a "critical role" in the country's missile defense systems. He said the building's dedication comes at a time when countries, such as North Korea, are developing weapons to reach the United States.
"Our new facilities here will allow the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense team to take the U.S. Navy and our country into a new era," Obering said. "Missile defense from the sea."
After the commissioning ceremony, Obering said the new site, approximately 60 miles south of Washington, is good because it offers easy access to the capital region and the Missile Defense Agency's headquarters in the Pentagon.
Obering said a high percentage of workers from Crystal City elected to stay in their jobs and move to Dahlgren.
The building was originally meant to house the Naval Network and Space Operations Command, which was disestablished a year ago.
Christopher Taylor, director of public affairs for the Missile Defense Agency, said between $12 million and $13 million was used to prepare the building for Aegis, on top of its $20 million price tag.
Corey Byers: 540/735-1976
Email: cbyers@freelancestar.com
|
military and government civilian employees and contractors in the new Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense facility
military and government civilian workers and contractors on the base
to build the facility, originally constructed for a Naval Network and Space Operations Command
in addition to the $20 million to prepare the building for the Aegis program |
|
Read more stories about King George
Date published: 10/23/2007
Most recent reader comments:
your tax dollars at work or waste!
(posted by
25yr_Fed
, Oct. 23, 2007 12:50 pm)
I am amazed at the open admission of the $12 to $13 million additional expense in modifications to house the new Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense in the newly constructed building. Meeting the requirements of the new tenants involved several modifications to the new uninhabited building. To accomodate the modifications, the building had to be completed according to the existing contract requirements knowing that new carpet, walls, etc. were to be tore out to be replaced with what would be acceptable. WASTE!
|
Star Directory
