CE Weekly: Big Things to Come in 2023!

TUE 03 JAN 23

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A Year Ahead Message from your Director of Civil Engineers

As we embark on a new year, I am grateful for everything we accomplished together. And I am eager to set the pace for the success of our force moving forward. Civil Engineers are hard-wired as problem solvers. At every turn, we roll up our sleeves in anticipation of our next challenge. Through perseverance, teamwork, and commitment to service, we conquer seemingly impossible challenges. 

Our entire force depends on Civil Engineers successfully doing our job; we enable the projection of combat power anytime, anywhere. This year, we will continue to operate, maintain, protect, and recover installations worldwide.  

To ensure the success of Airmen and Guardians, we must effectively manage resources and manpower to fulfill our mission by investing to assure readiness to our power projection platforms and cost-effectively modernize our infrastructure. Our Total Force team at all levels must lead the way in innovation and disciplined initiative. 

Threats are no longer isolated to our physical infrastructure. We face unprecedented cybersecurity threats. We must continue to strengthen the cyber resiliency of our mission-critical control systems and protect the critical infrastructure required to support our military bases and Department missions. 

Success in a complex, multi-domain environment depends on Airmen operating in changing climates. Airmen Engineers must be ready to adapt to those changes, tackle challenges head-on, and confront our pacing challenge. Our CE Warfighting Ethos will be at the core of everything we do: lean, effective, agile, dynamic. 

We would not be the Air Force we are today without the sacrifices that Airmen and their families make every day. I am proud to serve alongside each and every one of you; thank you for your unparalleled service.  

We stand on the shoulders of giants; we remain stewards of the foundation and heritage they forged. I look forward to building on their – our – successes, with you, in 2023!  

LEAD THE WAY! 

BRIAN S. HARTLESS 
Brig Gen, USAF 
Director of Civil Engineers 

Reflecting on the CE Top 3 of 2022 as we ring in the New Year!

To the HORSE

#1 Most Viewed Article of 2022

The newly activated 801 RHTS was established to stabilize, standardize, and cultivate contingency training for combat support teams across the Air Force, allowing instructors to concentrate on teaching members. At the 801 Operating Location, leadership will have the opportunity to invest in instructors to ensure they are proficient in teaching.

Porsche and his RED HORSE Commander

#2 Most Viewed Article of 2022

After 23 years of service, Col Adam Roberts, the 555 RED HORSE commander, trained Porsche as a service animal to help him overcome personal struggles and multiple deployments. The relationship between Porsche, a labradoodle, and Col Roberts sheds light on mental health and the importance of asking for help.

Diversifying Degrees for Entry

#3 Most Viewed Article of 2022

Following Brig Gen William Kale’s approval, five new degrees have been officially codified into the Air Force Officer Classification Directory for entry into the career field, including Aeronautical, Biomedical, Chemical, Petroleum Engineering, and Construction Management. These additions will provide cognitive diversity, while maintaining the professional focus of the CE community.   

Home Away from Home

The DAF Fisher House Program is run by AFSVC and assists with housing military and veterans during tough times. Serving more than 430,000 families across the DoD over the last three decades, the program currently has 14 houses across eight installations.

AFIMSC Sets Sight on 2023

AFIMSC closed out 2022 with tremendous success reaching all three lines of effort: increase lethality and readiness, strengthen Airmen, Guardians, and families, and pursue organizational excellence. In 2023, AFIMSC plans to set the bar even higher, adding new initiatives for better integration and synergy across the center.

Staying Cool on Ice

Winter increases hazardous driving conditions that delay traffic, decrease vehicle control, and create icy roads. Taking precaution can be the difference between staying safe or not, including decreasing speed, making slower braking and turning movements, and driving without the aid of cruise control.

Can you guess this AFB? 

This AFB was established in 1939 and renamed in 1941 to honor an aviator who served in World War I. Situated on 5,767 acres, this AFB houses 19 aircrafts, worth $1B, and is home to the Hurricane Hunters. 

A.     MacDill AFB 
B.     Eglin AFB  
C.     Offutt AFB  
D.     Cannon AFB  

Scroll to the bottom for the answer!

Today, we spotlight the 55 CES, the 2022 runway completion at Offutt AFB, and Rob Hufford, Chief of Construction Management, who was among the first to take flight from Lincoln, Nebraska, to the final landing at Offutt AFB.  The runway project was completed in 579 days and was on time and within budget in. The effort included all hands-on deck, with 209,000 people making 19,000 roundtrips to support over 1,800 sorties out of Lincoln. The project was no small effort, with over 25 million pounds of equipment being moved and close to 240,000 hours of security force defenders protecting the space during construction.  

Are you a current USAF Civil Engineer and want to submit an article, news story, or picture to the CE Weekly? Email us for guidance on how to contribute!    CEWeekly@AirForceCE.com

TRIVIA ANSWER: MacDill AFB