Officials at Aviano AB, Italy, broke ground on the new facility for the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron. Construction of the $7.2 million, 31,915-square-foot building is scheduled to be completed in June 2013. It will bring the unit’s air support operations, command section, and radio facilities under one roof and will provide more storage space for equipment, easier accessibility, and more efficiency, according to airmen at Aviano. “The new facility will provide better conditions, technical support, infrastructure, and quality of life,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Robinson, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron commander. The ground-breaking took place on Jan. 12. The 8th ASOS provides command and control of close air support and maintains mission-ready air support operations personnel, radios, vehicles, and mobility equipment. (Aviano report by A1C Jenay Randolph)
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.