Officials at Duke Field, Fla., earlier this month held a ceremony marking the completion of the second and final stage of a $10.1 million renovation of the base’s 1950s-era lodging facilities, according to a base release. Duke is home to Air Force Reserve Command’s 919th Special Operations Wing. With the renovation, the two buildings comprising the Duke Inn and Visiting Quarters now offer a total of 96 updated guest rooms and four business suites, with four of the guest rooms designed to accommodate persons with disabilities, states the base’s March 7 release. The renovation included new furnishings, a move from common bathroom areas to private bathrooms in each guest room, and individually controlled air conditioning and heating systems, said wing officials. “Those were some of the key things in trying to get the buildings caught up to the 21st century,” said Kevin Smith, business operations manager for the 919th Force Support Squadron’s services flight. The ceremony took place on March 1. (Duke report by Dan Neely)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.