AFMC Command News

School of Aerospace Medicine personnel begin moving into new complex at Wright-Patterson AFB

  • Published
  • By Elizabeth Long
  • 711th Human Performance Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Air Force Research Laboratory took another major step toward the completion of Base Realignment and Closure when it took possession of the Maj. Gen. Harry G. Armstrong complex here in early March.

The complex is composed of four buildings that will house mission units of the 711th Human Performance Wing.

Personnel from the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine began moving into their new classrooms, consultative and medical areas, laboratories and office space in Building 840 almost immediately. USAFSAM is relocating its missions to Wright-Patterson from Brooks City-Base, Texas.

Col. Keith Brandt, chief of the Aerospace Medicine Education Branch, was settling into his office in the new complex. He previously was working at a temporary location in the Kettering Business Park in Kettering, Ohio.

"The facility at Wright-Patterson is wonderful," Colonel Brandt said. "It consolidates our operations into one area. Brooks City-Base was a campus so we had to hold classes in three or four buildings. Here, 90 percent of our classes and our work will be accomplished in this one building."

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Lawson, deputy chief of the Aerospace Medicine Education Branch, was another recent arrival. He described the complex as a world-class facility.

"When we populate this facility with our high-caliber people, it is going to be a tremendous asset to our mission," he said.

Colonel Lawson also appreciates the consolidation of operations.

"As great as media and technology are today, they cannot compensate for me meeting in person with someone, or casually running into someone in the hallway. Some great ideas come about that way."

Col. Donald Noah, deputy commander of the School of Aerospace Medicine, said the huge undertaking of relocating from Brooks City-Base to WPAFB has gone smoothly.

"We have a detailed plan," he explained, "which is based on mission requirements and priorities, and when we could get computers and phones. Everyone is assigned a date when they can move their things here - not before and not after."

Colonel Noah said the moving schedule is carefully built around a complex framework of student and class schedules. USAFSAM teaches about 5,000 students a year, from initial technical training through complex international courses and Graduate Medical Training.

To keep an uninterrupted flow of students and classes, some classes have been held at USAFSAM's temporary location in Kettering since December. Classes will continue to be held there and gradually all of them will transition to the new complex. The transition is expected to be complete sometime in June 2011.