MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, ND -- A late afternoon groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 15 at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota marked the official start of construction on a new Helicopter Operations Tactical Response Alert Facility for the Air Force’s 54th Helicopter Squadron, 91st Security Forces Group's tactical response force.
Michael Nelson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project engineer, and John Denning, USACE construction representative from the USACE Omaha District’s Minot Resident Office will manage and provide oversight of this $129 million (approx.) project.
“The team and I are really looking forward to this project”, Nelson said. “I grew up not far from here and am glad to have this opportunity to support our Air Force partners here at Minot.”
This state of the art, 133 thousand square foot consolidated facility will have 11 helicopter bays, a flight training simulator, conference and classrooms and housing quarters, among other amenities.
Jay Klaassen, resident engineer from the District’s Minot Resident Office represented the USACE team by participating in the groundbreaking ceremony.
The ceremony began with several keynote speakers including Air Force General Thomas Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Col. Kenneth McGhee, 91st Missile Wing commander, and North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, among others.
Bryan Construction from Denver, Colo. is the commercial general contractor of this military construction project which is expected to be completed in early 2025.
The 54th Helicopter Squadron provides helicopter security response for the 91st Missile Wing. The new facility will eventually house MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters which are replacing the UH-1 Huey.
For further information on the Omaha District’s military construction program, visit:
www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Military-Missions/