Captain’s Column

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had an opportunity to relax and enjoy your time with family or friends.

In many cases, starting a New Year can be exciting as some may have just experienced the best year ever and look forward to what 2019 has to offer. Others may have just finished a year filled with one struggle after another, and are hoping 2019 will be very different. Either way the new year is a chance to reset, and start again. The new calendar year can bring hope for things to be better.

We know we can start the new year with fresh beginnings and opportunities; it is a chance to reset our goals and endeavor to continue to improve. Remember, New Year’s resolutions can be daunting, so don’t start by biting off more than you can chew, but with small achievable goals.

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi has many goals as we get going in the new year. Not only will we look for opportunities to improve around the base, we will also continue undergoing repairs from Hurricane Harvey. Contractors are still working on the hangar roofs and are targeting to have the repairs completed within the month with plans for all interior repairs to be completed following the external repairs. Currently roofing completion percentages include 98 percent of Hangar 51; 90 percent of Hangar 57; 95 percent of Hangar 58; 90 percent of Hangar 56; and 85 percent of Hangar 55.

Other Hurricane Harvey roof repairs include the Chapel roofs which are scheduled to begin in the next several weeks. Improvements for the chapel include the chillers being replaced prior to Spring.

We are still remodeling some of the floors of Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi – we are laying carpet, moving walls, and installing computer drops to complete the Fleet & Family Support Center move to the 4th floor. We have also received proposals for the space renovation project of the 3rd floor to house Navy College offices.

For CNATRA and the air-wing…CNATRA Headquarters renovations are ongoing. The contractor is continuing with the interior work including HVAC, electrical, plumbing and carpentry. Weather permitting, roofing will continue for the next several weeks. We are also well into the design stage of the Training Wing Four Squadron Operations and Administration Facility and are waiting for the contractor to revise and resubmit revisions to address fire safety, site design and parking concerns.

For security-related matters, Hurricane Harvey fence repairs include portions of the airfield and Dimmit Island. We have completed the work around the South Gate to include a new gate, Commercial Vehicle Inspection lot and other upgrades. Plans are also underway to improve traffic safety and make improvements to crosswalks throughout the base.

These are just some of the repairs we have ongoing for the new year. We are continually looking for ways to improve our current facilities while we fight for new structures. Our infrastructure improvements can only make this a better place to live, work and play!