AFMC Command News

711th Human Performance Wing initiates new complex

  • Published
  • By Elizabeth Long
  • 711th Human Performance Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  With hundreds of dignitaries, special guests and base personnel looking on, representatives cut the ribbon on the Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing's  new complex, named in honor of United States Air Force Maj. Gen. Harry G. Armstrong, a pioneer in the field of aerospace research.

Among the dignitaries were members of General Armstrong's family; Lt. Gen. Bruce Green, Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force; and numerous WPAFB, military, civic and corporate leaders.

"I want to express my gratitude and congratulations to all of you who have played a role in completing the largest military construction project to be undertaken at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base since World War II," said Maj. Gen. William McCasland, AFRL commander. "You did it right, you did it on budget, and you did it ahead of schedule."

The 711 HPW received beneficial occupancy of the 680,000-square-foot facility 89 days early. Personnel began occupying the complex on March 1.

"No one person can take credit for delivering this beautiful complex ahead of schedule," said Thomas Wells, 711 HPW director. "It was a team effort, involving not only our partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 88th Air Base Wing, and the joint venture (between Butt Construction Company and Archer Western Contractors), but the Navy (Naval Medical Research Unit - Dayton) and all of the people in the 711th Human Performance Wing who became constructions experts, and reviewed drawings to make sure that our mission was going to work in this complex."

Col. John Drolet, deputy commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Dan Walsh, who represented the joint venture of Butt Construction and Archer Western Contractors, were also part of the official party at the ceremony. They were joined by Dan France, chief of plans and programs for the 88th Air Base Wing and the installation BRAC drector, for the ribbon cutting.