GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Grissom leadership, elected officials and representatives, and construction personnel cut a ribbon opening a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower here Aug. 3. Pictured from left are Mike Karickhoff, Indiana state representative; Tom Weatherwax, Grissom Community Council president; Col. Luke Leonard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lousiville District commander; Bob Ulibarri, 434th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations manager; Terry Albaugh, 434th OSS air traffic manager; William Butt, owner of a construction company; Col. Don Buckley, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander; David Murtaugh, northwest Indiana region director for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats; Col. Christopher Amend, 434th Operations Group commander; Jim Walker, mayor of Peru, Ind.; Tresa Baker, special assistant to U.S. Rep. Dan Burton; and Meredith Perks, case manager for U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Local civic leaders, elected officials and military leadership cut a ribbon, opening a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower here Aug. 1. Grissom's ATC manages all military and civilian aviation between the Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center going as far west as Lafayette, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jami K. Lancette)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Bob Ulibarri, 434th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations manager, highlights the improvements Grissom's new $7.4 million air traffic control tower has over the old tower to Grissom Community Council members during a tour of the new tour here Aug. 3. The new tower offers more space for state-of-the-art equipment, is fully climate controlled, is two stories taller than the old tower, and is located inside Grissom's perimeter offering greater security. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Col. Don Buckley, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, talks with John Floyd, a Grissom Community Council member, about the importance of Grissom to both military and civilian aviation in a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower here Aug. 3. Grissom invited civic leaders and elected officials out for a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially opened the new ATC tower. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Kevin Ware, 434th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, talks with an inbound KC-135R Stratotanker during a ribbon cutting for a new ATC tower here Aug. 3. Grissom controls all military, civilian and commercial aviation up to 10,000 feet between Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center, going as far West as Lafayette, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Grissom opened a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower here Aug. 1. Grissom's ATC manages all military and civilian aviation between the Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center going as far west as Lafayette, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jami K. Lancette)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Grissom leadership, construction personnel, elected officials and representatives all applaud after a ribbon is cut opening Grissom's new $7.4 million air traffic control tower here Aug. 3. Grissom controls all military, civilian and commercial aviation up to 10,000 feet between Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center, going as far West as Lafayette, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Col. Christopher Amend, 434th Operations Group commander, speaks with local civic leaders and elected officials during a ribbon cutting ceremony here Aug. 1, for a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower. Grissom's ATC manages all military and civilian aviation between the Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center going as far west as Lafayette, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jami K. Lancette)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Local civic leaders, elected officials and military leadership participate in the opening of a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower here Aug. 1. Grissom's ATC manages all military and civilian aviation between the Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center going as far west as Lafayette, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jami K. Lancette)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Col. Don Buckley, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, presents Bob Ulibarri with an Air Force Reserve Command Col. Derrel L. Dempsey Airfield Operations Manager of the Year Award for 2011 during a ribbon cutting ceremony opening Grissom's new $7.4 million ATC tower Aug. 3. Ulibarri is a 434th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations manager. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Col. Don Buckley, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, presents Theresa Wilson with an Air Force Reserve Command Air Traffic Controller of the Year Award for 2011 during a ribbon cutting ceremony opening Grissom's new $7.4 million ATC tower Aug. 3. Wilson is an air traffic controller with the 434th Operations Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)
by Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin
434th ARW Public Affairs
8/17/2012 - GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- With a snip of giant scissors, the 434th Air Refueling Wing celebrated the completion of a new $7.4 million air traffic control tower.
Marking the occasion, Col. Don Buckley, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, presided over a ribbon cutting ceremony here Aug. 3 attended by local civic leaders, elected officials and base personnel.
"It's outstanding," said Terry Albaugh, 434th Operations Support Squadron air traffic manager, referring to the new tower.
Construction on the new tower began in March 2011 and it was designed to replace the previous one built in 1969 that was located outside Grissom's boundary.
The new control tower maximizes safety and efficiency, provides an improved view, and is in a much closer and more secure area, said Robert Ulibarri, 434th OSS airfield operations manager.
The new facility also offers more space for modern equipment, requires less maintenance, and has an improved safety design making it more resilient in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Ulibarri said the new tower has an increased operational capability that benefits not only the military, but the general aviation community as it provides control for all aircraft that travel between Chicago and Indianapolis, going as far west as Lafayette, Ind., up to 10,000 feet.
Standing in front of the tower during the ceremony, Buckley commented on the inception of the project, and then with some of the guests joining him, they cut the ribbon of the new tower, officially dedicating the new structure.
Afterward, the guests then had the opportunity to take a tour of the tower.
Among those in attendance were Jim Walker, Mayor of Peru, Ind., Dave Murtaugh, representing Senator Dan Coats, Tresa Baker, representing Congressman Dan Burton, and Meredith Perks, representing Congressman Joe Donnelly.
Buckley also presented awards to three of Grissom's controllers during the ceremony and congratulated them on their success.
Ulibarri, was honored with the Col. Darrel L. Dempsey Air Traffic Control Officer of the Year for 2011 award.
Robert Moore, 434th OSS training and standardization manager, was awarded the AFRC Air Traffic Control Training Achievement of the Year for 2011.
Theresa Wilson, 434th OSS air traffic controller, was named the AFRC Air Traffic Controller of the Year for 2011.
