Bradley Getting New Operations Center

Construction activities have begun at Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, Connecticut, to erect the new building that will house the air and space operations center run by the 103rd Airlift Wing. Under BRAC 2005, the Air Guard wing is adding the new facility for its state-of-the-art center as well as offices, conference space, and training areas. The wing’s 103rd Air and Space Operations Group will manage the AOC, which is expected to be initially operationally capable next spring. “As we literally build this new capability from the ground up, I see a bright future ahead of us,” said Col. Peter DePatie, 103rd AOG boss. The groundbreaking ceremony for the facility took place earlier this month. Back in March, in another BRAC 2005-directed move, work began to expand the wing’s facility for repairing TF34 engines that power A-10 ground-attack aircraft. (Bradley report by Capt. Jefferson S. Heiland)