New helicopter hangar opens

"One of my top goals as the commanding officer of what I certainly consider to be the finest naval air station in the world, is to anticipate the needs of our warfighters and ensure they have the right equipment and facilities needed to accomplish their missions. This magnificent structure brings me one more step closer to achieving my goal," said NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr., during the ceremony.

"The $77 million that was invested in this project will serve the Navy's Helicopter Maritime Strike Force Wing Atlantic and its multi-mission, agile and very sophisticated MH-60 Romeo helicopter, the newest aircraft in the Navy's fleet, for decades to come," he continued. "It will provide our warfighters with the very best in modern infrastructure. It is also the second 'green' hangar in the Navy and aboard our installation." Scorby then introduced Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) to the podium.

Photo by Kaylee LaRocque An MH-60R "Romeo" Seahawk helicopter is displayed in the new Helicopter Hangar 1122 during the June 30 dedication ceremony.

"This is a fantastic example of the growth and modernization that is taking place at Naval Air Station Jacksonville," remarked Crenshaw, a member of the U.S. House Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. "In addition to housing the five Romeo helicopter squadrons, the hangar project includes required maintenance support, administration and building support spaces for each squadron."

"This hangar will provide those who are operating or conducting maintenance on the new Romeos with the resources they need to keep the squadrons up and ready," Crenshaw added.

Commander, Navy Region Southeast Rear Adm. Townsend Alexander also praised those involved accomplishing the historic milestone. "It's not easy to pull these things off," Alexander said to Capt. Doug Morton, commanding officer, Naval Facilities Command Southeast. "Your team did a fantastic job on this outstanding facility."

The first squadron to move into the new facility will be HSM-70, the first squadron at NAS Jacksonville to receive the new MH-60R helicopters. The squadron was established at NAS Jax in February 2009.

"More than 10 years ago, the Navy developed the Helicopter Master Plan, which was an acquisition strategy to develop a helicopter force that was combat effective, easy to support with global logistics and provide commonality across the Navy and Department of Defense. The result of that initiative is the MH-60R," stated Commander, HSM Wing, U.S. Atlantic Capt. Glenn Doyle. "It is designed to be deployed as either part of the carrier air wing on an aircraft carrier or in traditional HSL detachments on frigates, destroyers or cruisers."

Photo by Kaylee LaRocque The official party renders honors during the national anthem at the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open Helicopter Hangar 1122 at NAS Jacksonville June 30. From left, Lt. Cmdr. Paul Anderson, Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) Wing, U.S. Atlantic command chaplain; Ken Johnson, representative for Congresswoman Corrinne Brown (D-FL); Ronald Hausmann, president, Waldridge Aldinger Construction Company; Adele Griffin, representative for Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL); Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL); Rear Adm. Townsend Alexander, commander, Navy Region Southeast; Capt. Jack Scorby, NAS Jacksonville commanding officer; Michelle Barth, representative for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL); Capt. Glenn Doyle, commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, U.S. Atlantic, Bob Buehn, chief of Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services Division and Cmdr. Gerald Fellner, NAS Jacksonville command chaplain.

"It is a common airframe to most of the other helicopters in the Navy inventory, but the mission systems and weapons systems present the very cutting edge in technology, continuing to provide a tactical advantage to U.S. Naval Forces. This makes the MH-60R a special breed of helicopter that is highly capable, versatile and multi-mission," continued Doyle. "This hangar complex, like this helicopter, presents the best in technology and manufacturing and will serve this station, the HSM Wing and the Navy for years to come."

The 204,931-sq.-foot facility will consolidate five helicopter squadrons into one hangar resulting in a smaller footprint and reduced energy costs.

"A project of this magnitude does not happen overnight," said NAS Jax Public Works Officer Cmdr. Chuck Lewis, who was the master of ceremony for the event. "Many personnel from the Navy, both military and DoD civilians and Walbridge played significant roles in the day-to-day execution of this project ensuring the highest quality, timely completion and exceptional safety record through 482,000 man-hours of construction."

"It was truly a partnership that worked closely with the contractor and was able to complete this facility several months in advance," he added. Also participating in the event were: Capt. Douglas Morton, commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast; Ronald Hausmann, president of Waldridge Aldinger Construction Company; Bob Buehn, chief of Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services Division; Ken Johnson, representing Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.); Michelle Barth, representing Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.); Adele Griffin, representing Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.); and HSM-70 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Scott Walsh.

The invocation and blessing of the hangar was delivered by HSM Wing Atlantic Command Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Paul Anderson. NAS Jacksonville Command Chaplain (Cmdr.) Gerald Felder delivered the benediction. Navy Band Southeast performed the national anthem and other patriotic music.

NAVFAC SE awarded this $72.3 million contract to Walbridge-Aldinger of Detroit, Mich. on March 21, 2006.