Columbus earns $25.4M end of year close out

  • Published
  • By Sonic Johnson
  • 14th Flying Training wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Members of the Base Community Council heard it first when Col. Ken Bryson, 14th Mission Support Group commander, presented the results of the Fiscal Year 2009 financial close-out. Columbus Air Force Base competed and won a record $25.4 million dollars for numerous base projects.
The fiscal windfalls are a result of budget savings throughout the year over the entire Air Force. Each base researches and submits projects that must compete on merit and the ability to execute the project short notice.
"This year's success reflects a great team effort between the base civil engineers, base contracting and my finance team," bragged Maj. Matt Waggoner, 14th Comptroller-Contracting (P) acting commander." The Columbus team worked all year to keep our projects designed, sourced and justified to our higher headquarters,"
Some of the larger projects include upgraded parking areas around the Operations Group building, renovation the heating and cooling system of one of the Unaccompanied Officer dorms, a new kitchen in the Airmen and Family Readiness Center, Renovation of maintenance hanger 450, adding addition underground water lines to enhance water flow, roof repairs to several base buildings and partial renovation of the Wing Headquarters. In all, there are over 20 projects for the base. Wing T-6 pilots already see the benefits of one of the projects, the repainting of the auxiliary field runway which was completed last month.
This good news will bring disruption of normal day to day activities around the base this year. "I ask patience of our BLAZE Team members and visitors as we work these improvements throughout the year," asks Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander. "This is an important step as we continue to improve the working and living areas for our Airmen."