Electricians keep Travis fully charged

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – From powering a simple light bulb in 1879, to jets that can go faster than the speed of sound, electricity has truly changed the way humans live.

Travis Air Force Base, California can indulge in the luxury that electricity provides because of the 60th Civil Engineering Squadron electricians.

“We perform maintenance on 394 facilities valued at $2.6 billion for three wings at Air Mobility Command’s largest mobility installation,” said Tech. Sgt. Mario Francis, 60th CES NCO in charge electrical systems.

Not only do they support the entire base, but also ensure safety and mission readiness.

“Additionally, we conduct maintenance inspections on 250 fire alarm systems, safeguarding 27,000 personnel on a daily basis,” said Francis. “Finally, we are responsible for providing lighting for what can be considered the most important assets on base and that is the airfield. This enables safe uninterrupted missions for 58 aircraft valued at $8.1 billion.”

The 60th CES electrician’s office has a mix of experienced member, and some new to the craft.

“60th CES electricians are a team of well-trained professionals, some of whom are still learning their craft and some technical experts who work tirelessly to power the mission,” said Francis.

Keeping the base powered enables every other unit to do their job, and getting to see their hard work pay off after every job promotes high moral within their office.

“I like that we see the fruits of our labor immediately after a job is finished,” said Airman Richard Torres, 60th CES electrical systems apprentice. “If a building doesn’t have power we are the ones who go in, we are the ones who fix it and we see immediate results when that buildings power is restored.”

The electricians cover a large array of jobs. Whether it’s a single street light or the flight line lighting, they ensure it’s operational.

“Technicians with the 60th CES maintain building lighting, receptacles, heating and air conditioning, lift gates, the hospital, the base entrance gates, hangars and their doors, air field lighting, David Grant USAF Medical Center, office computers, TVs and so much more,” said Randall Ollenberger, 60th CES electrician.

Working with electricity can be incredibly dangerous, even for those with electrical training and knowledge.

“Complacency is the biggest issue electricians face,” said Torres. “We are all in this fight, but we have a lot more at stake with this career field. If you get careless, one slip of the hand could end your life.”

Even with the risk electricians face, they take pride in the fact that they are the only ones with the proper training and skills to do the job that many people rely on.

“I’m very proud to be a 60th CES electrician,” said Ollenberger. “Just think about if you lost power, what you would do to fix it if Travis Air Force Base didn’t have the 60th CES electricians. We’re here as professionals in the field to service the base and make sure everything is continuously running properly.”

This is the team that keeps Travis Air Force Base operating at full power and that is something they take to heart.

“Our mission is to provide power to the base in efforts to support the overall mission of air mobility,” said Torres. “And that’s what we intend to do.”