More support

CHERRY POINT - Groundbreaking for a $16.84 million facility to provide engineering support at Navy's Fleet Readiness Center East is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday morning.

The 35,736-square foot facility will be a two-story building on land once used for Hancock Village military housing on N.C. 101.

The Engineering Product Support Facility is planned to include new office space, engineering labs, a telecommunications switch center and a 5,000-square foot high bay area to allow full-scale engineering simulations for the V-22 aircraft, said David Green of command communications at FRC East.

It is expected to improve the FRC East support of the fleet, accommodate new V-22 automated test requirements, and improve the quality of life in the workplace for current personnel.  

The project also includes site improvements, utility upgrades and parking for the facility to consolidate engineering support for seven aircraft reworked at FRC East.

Maj. Gen. Carl B. Jensen from Camp Lejeune, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East, is expected to attend the groundbreaking. Also expected are Cherry Point commanding officer, Col. Frank Bottorff; FRC East commanding officer Colonel David A. Smith, executive officer Col. Scott Loch, and facility senior leadership; and Navy Commander Kevin Jutunen, officer in charge of construction on the base.

The guest list also includes Sen. Jean Preston, Rep. William Wainwright and Rep. Alice Underhill among state legislators; Newport Mayor Derryl Garner, Havelock Town Manager Jim Freeman and Havelock commissioners George Liner, James Stuart and Danny Walsh; and staff members of U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan.

This new facility will consolidate 200 engineers and logisticians at FRC East currently spread out over several locations across the Air Station and the city of Havelock. When completed, three leased sites and eight temporary facilities will no longer be needed, resulting in cost savings and greater security.

In addition to personnel supporting the aircraft platforms, others expected be located at the new site include aircrew evacuation systems, flight controls, structures, subsystems, consolidated automated support systems, reconfigurable transportable consolidated support system.

The Engineering Product Support Facility is the first project that will develop the former military housing area as a new industrial complex.

The contract was awarded on Feb. 17, 2009, to the Haskell Company, Jacksonville, Fla., and Larry Willis is expected to represent the company at the event.

Sue Book can be reached at (252) 635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com.