Marines

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Col. Eric W. Schaefer (center), commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, unties the maile lei as Navy Capt. George Suther, executive officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii (right) and Kahu Solomon Borabora look on during the dedication ceremony of the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay Operations and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Complex, Feb. 12, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong/Released)

Photo by Kristen Wong

MCB Hawaii celebrates new MCAS facility

20 Feb 2015 | Kristen Wong Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Nearly two years after breaking ground, guests and personnel gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay Operations and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Complex with a dedication ceremony, Feb. 12, 2015.

The $47.3 million complex, which is located just before the flightline on base, includes a 30,709-square-foot air terminal dedicated to passenger and cargo travel, as well as a 17,104-square-foot station.

Guests shaded themselves beneath white tents, with their eyes on Lt. Col. Kevin J. Dobzyniak, the commanding officer of MCAS Kaneohe Bay, a pink and white flower lei draped over his shoulders.

“Mr. Swede Olson, Mr. Jeff Telling,” Dobzyniak began, referring to the airfield manager and the airfield operations officer of MCAS. “This building was yours from the very beginning. It was your vision, and you can see it all over. It’s a very special place, and I thank you once again. It’s going to be here for generations.”

Dobzyniak also thanked the service members and civilians in his unit for keeping operations running smoothly and helping with the transition from Hangar 105 to the new location.

“It is an absolutely amazing achievement,” said Col. Eric W. Schaefer, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. “Everybody should be very, very proud.”

The facility’s first floor has the Marine Corps Community Services’ Flying Leatherneck Inn, which serves breakfast and lunch. The new complex also has historical flavor, due to efforts by the Pacific War Memorial Association and the Environmental Compliance and Protection Department. All along the walls are pictures with narratives about Mokapu Peninsula’s long history, from early Hawaiian settlements to the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks. There is a glass case filled with artifacts from World War I and World War II.

“From an architect’s point of view, this is really a nice building,” said Navy Capt. George Suther, the executive officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii. “If you look at the tower over here you’ve got a 360-degree view, so if you don’t like the view this way just rotate around and ‘wow,’ you’ve got another great view of Hawaii all the way around and there are strategic places within the building where the glass allows you to get great views out there as well. So it (isn’t) just (a) facility to take care of Marine Corps aviation requirements (it’s) also a facility for the people that use it and that’s important.”

Suther added during his speech that the entire period of construction had been mishap free.

“The MCAS Operations Building and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Complex along with an aircraft parking ramp were constructed with the highest quality of construction materials with energy efficient systems,” said Swede Olson, airfield manager of MCAS Kaneohe Bay.

Olson presented Stephen D’Angelo, the CEO of DCK Worldwide with a plaque on behalf of the base, for the company’s hard work and ability to avoid mishaps during the project. Schaefer also presented a certificate of commendation to Brad Hall, project manager at DCK Pacific Construction, LLC.

“It’s a very intimidating and interesting facility to walk through,” D’Angelo said. “We’re proud to be part of this and we’re proud to be part of this project.”

After the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band played the “Armed Forces Medley,” Kahu Stephanie and Kahu Solomon Borabora came to the podium to give a Hawaiian blessing. Then, Schaefer and key personnel approached the entrance of the new building, where Schaefer officially untied the maile lei.

“This complex will last into the next century and provide a strategic hub for tenant and transient commands to meet their training and deployment requirements,” Olson said. “In addition, historical design and displays were incorporated into the structure which will give a sense of our historical past with educational opportunities for active duty and their families, retirees, the civilian community and our adopt-a-school programs. The nonprofit Pacific War Memorial Association greatly helped in this effort. This was a great achievement by the government and contractors working as a team to achieve this remarkable facility.”



Marine Corps Base Hawaii