Community Corner

New Pease Facility for KC-46A Military Tanker

Gov. Maggie Hassan and entire NH Congressional Delegation hail $10 million facility as a vital component for new KC-46A Stratotankers.

Members of the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing dedicated a new Squadron Operations Building on Monday morning.

They were joined by Gov. Maggie Hassan, U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, and U.S. Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Ann Kuster, D-NH.

New Hampshire National Guard Adjutant Gen. William Reddel said the building was 20 years in the making. It will complement the addition of the new KC-46A tankers that are scheduled to arrive in 2017.

Hassan said the new building also demonstrates the overall skill and excellent service that the 157th Air Refueling Wing's record of accomplishments at Pease.

"On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, we are grateful to all of the men and women of the 157th," Hassan said.

Shaheen, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the state-of-the-art $10 million facility is a great investment to continue to make the 157th a vital part of the Air Force's structure.

New Hampshire Air National Guard Col. Paul Hutchinson, commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing, said the new facility began with the leadership of Gens. Joseph Simone and Ken Clark. He said everyone involved made sure it contained everything that was needed to consolidate the functions that were contained in three buildings into one facility that stayed within the $10 million budget.

The New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, Hassan, Portsmouth Mayor-elect Robert Lister and New Hampshire Air National Guard leaders then cut a ribbon in front of the new facility.

"We have your back," Ayotte said of the entire New Hampshire Congressional Delegation's efforts in Washington to support the New Hampshire Air National Guard. But their record of achievement makes those efforts much easier, Ayotte said.

"There is not one thing that happens around the world that does not involve the 157th," Ayotte said.

She also said more than 100 members of the 157th Air Refueling Wing who are deployed around the world who have families at home "who are holding down the fort."

"We didn't make the case. You make the case everyday," she said.

Kuster said the 38,000-square-foot facility "will keep our Guard and the active duty components the best there is."

Kuster said the 157th Air Refueling Wing will be able to continue its mission with the new KC-46A Stratotankers well into the future.


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