Airmen moving on up into new housing

Breaking and entering

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lt. Col. Joseph Milner, 30th Security Forces commander, alongside his family and 30th Space Wing Commander Col. David Buck, cuts the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the Milner's new home and the first home to be opened in the new company and field grade housing complex here. The Milner's home is part of a project that encompasses 458 acres with plans to build 164 new homes and renovate 703 of the existing homes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Published April 22, 2009
By Senior Airman Wesley Carter
30th Space Wing Public Affairs

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 30th Space Wing and Balfour Beatty Communities hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony here April 20 in celebration of the new company grade and field grade officer housing neighborhood here.

The ribbon cutting, which took place at the 30th Security Forces Commander Lt. Col. Joseph Milner's new home, highlights part of a three-year, new construction effort that will deliver new homes over eight phases.

"Today is a celebration of the 50-year partnership Balfour Beatty has with the Air Force," said Ron Nestor, a Balfour Beatty senior vice president. "In the next 50 years we look forward to providing future Airmen with the safe and affordable housing they deserve."

The project encompasses 458 acres with plans to build 164 new homes and renovate 703 of the existing homes.

The three-year construction effort not only includes new houses, but also the renovation of existing homes. In an effort to make the renovations as smooth as possible, houses will be renovated as current occupants move out.

During the ceremony, Col. David Buck, 30th Space Wing commander, shared a story that highlighted a lesson he had learned from a four-star earlier in his career about keeping Airmen happy and focused on the mission.

"You have to keep them fed, deliver their mail, make sure they get paid and provide them with good housing," Colonel Buck said. "We are taking care of our Airmen today by providing them with houses that, in the surrounding community, they couldn't afford. This is a real success story."