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Milestone reached in ops center, headquarters consolidation project
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 614th Air Operations Center, 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) and Joint Functional Component Command for Space headquarters consolidation project reached its first major milestone as the 30th Space Wing turned over a key administrative building for construction work to begin, Nov. 3.
U.S. Air Force Col. Keith Balts, commander, 30th SW, and Col. Patrice Melancon, 14th AF, JFCC Space, 614th AOC Consolidation Program Manager, turned over control of Building 7015 on Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to Mr. Tony Strickroth, senior project manager for the Gilbane Corporation, the construction and renovation contractor.
Building 7015 is being renovated to accommodate the 30th Operations Group as they relocate from Building 7000. The 30th OG will join the 30th Launch Group and 30th SW Safety Office as the post-renovation residents of Building 7015.
"This is a high-priority project for the base and our nation's space capabilities," Balts said. "I've been extremely impressed by those who enabled this key milestone to be met, including those in the 30th Launch Group and Wing Safety Office who recently relocated from Building 7015 to six different facilities around base to make today a reality."
The building renovation is one of three that will happen over the next several years. Renovation of Buildings 7015 and 7025 will be complete in the Fall of 2015. Renovation of Building 7000 is projected to begin in early 2016 and conclude mid-year in 2018.
The ultimate goal of this consolidation project is to resolve ongoing power and infrastructure deficiencies in the current home of the Joint Space Operations Center. The JSpOC is a synergistic command and control system which provides a focal point for the operational employment of worldwide joint space forces.
Additionally, the project will geographically co-locate the 14th AF and JFCC Space Commander and his staff with the 614th AOC and the JSpOC, bringing all the mission functions together under one roof.
"The renovation of Building 7000 will significantly reduce mission risk for the 614th AOC and the JSpOC by providing a more stable mission platform from which to operate," Melancon said. "Two key aspects of the renovation are a complete rework of both the electrical and mechanical systems in the building, upgrading systems and installing redundancies to improve functionality and resiliency of critical systems. In addition, the co-location of the NAF and Joint Staff with the Operations Center will afford a level of synergy and collaboration not currently supported with staff split between buildings."
Over the next 12 months, the interior of Building 7015 will be extensively renovated along with selected areas of Building 7025. Once these projects are complete, 30th OG personnel will relocate from Building 7000 to Building 7015, joining 30th LCG and 30th SW/SE as they return to the building. The Western Range Launch Systems remaining in Building 7000 will then be moved into Building 7025. Personnel moves are expected to be complete by Oct. 2015, and system moves are expected to be finished by March 2016.
After Building 7000 is vacated, the facility will undergo extensive renovations, to include new power and mechanical systems. The building will be tailored to accommodate the 614th Air Operations Center, Joint Space Operations Center, and 14th AF and JFCC Space staff functions. This phase of the project is scheduled to be complete by early to mid-2018.
14th AF is the sole numbered air force for space and is the Air Force's space task force to U.S. Strategic Command. It is responsible for the organization, training, equipping, command and control, and employment of Air Force space forces to support operational plans and missions for U.S. combatant commanders and air component commanders.
JFCC Space is a component of U.S. Strategic Command and is responsible for executing continuous, integrated space operations to deliver theater and global effects in support of national and combatant commander objectives. JFCC Space coordinates space operational-level planning, integration, and coordination to ensure unity of effort in support of military and national security operations, and support to civil authorities.