CRW hosts historic ribbon cutting, ground breaking ceremony

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nicole Langley
  • 615th Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 615th Contingency Response Wing hosted a combined ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremony here Nov. 5. 

The ceremony marked the completion and grand opening of the wing's Global Reach Deployment Center, along with the symbolic ground breaking of the 573rd Global Support Squadron's new operations building. 

"Today's ground breaking and ribbon cutting marks the culmination of several years of concerted effort of a partnership which included California's Congressional delegation, the state legislators, local civic leaders and community partners, the leadership and staff of Air Mobility Command and the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, the Naval Engineering Command, the general contractor RA Burch, our host here at Travis Air Force Base, the 60th Air Mobility Wing and members of our own 615th Contingency Response Wing," said Col. John Lipinski, 615th CRW commander. 

The completion of the Global Reach Deployment Center allows the wing to consolidate and centrally position all of its critical equipment and mobility gear in close proximity to the base's aerial port and will enhance the 615th CRW's ability to rapidly respond to situations throughout the world. 

The responsibility of providing training and ensuring the readiness of our wing resides with the 573rd GSS - a task further complicated by spreading various sections in six facilities across the base, explained Colonel Lipinski. 

The new Operations Building will allow the squadron to consolidate all its members and resources under one roof - improving and enhancing interaction and communication throughout the squadron and across the wing. 

"The Global Reach Deployment Center and the future Global Support Squadron operations building will stand as a testament to the teamwork, commitment and 'can-do' attitude that are hallmarks of the American spirit," said Colonel Lipinski. 

The ceremony also included remarks by Annie Winterfield, who attended on behalf of Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-CA). 

Following the ceremony, guests were invited inside the new Global Reach Deployment Center to view some of the wing's premier equipment and mobility items. 

Composed of approximately 700 people, the 615th CRW is one of two specialized wings in the U.S. Air Force that are responsible for rapidly establishing air mobility operations in support of contingency efforts and humanitarian operations. Members of the wing are expertly trained to load and depart to locations worldwide in less than 12 hours after receiving a call to respond.