USACE team helps keep America’s jet fighters ready to roll

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District
Published Dec. 9, 2022
Updated: Dec. 9, 2022
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Part of the Air National Guard's new fuel system is seen following a ribbon cutting ceremony on the Fresno Air National Guar's base in Fresno, California, on Nov. 29, 2022.

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A team of dignitaries prepares to snip a ribbon celebrating the completion of a new fuel facilty for the Fresno Air National Guard, in Fresno, Califorrnia, on Nov. 29, 2022.

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USACE Sacramento District’s Barry Combs, construction quality assurance representative explains how the new fuel facility improves safety, upgrades how vehicles deliver fuel to the base, and increases the speed in which fuel can be made available to aircraft.

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Barry Combs, SPK Quality Assurance Construction Representative (in yellow) talks about the Air National Guard's new fuel system during a tour of the facility following a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 29, 2022, in Fresno, California.

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Members of the press talk with the Air national Guard regarding the new fuel complex installed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District following a ribbon cutting on Nov. 29, 2022, in Fresno, California.

You can’t keep America’s air attack wing ready to roll without having jet fuel at the ready as well. That’s why the Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District just completed installation of a new fuel complex at the Fresno Air National Guard Base in Fresno, California.

On November 29, personnel from Sacramento District joined military and civilian personnel from the Fresno Air Attack Base, dignitaries and media for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating completion of a brand new jet fuel complex on the base.

The scope of the $17 million project included construction of a  jet fuel complex with field erected vertical storage tanks, pump shelter, truck fill stands, offloads, and refueler truck parking. This project also included demolition and removal of six underground storage tanks, a truck loading and off-loading system, the existing refueler truck parking facilities, and asbestos-containing concrete and asphalt.

USACE Sacramento District’s Barry Combs, construction quality assurance representative for the project, said that the new fuel facility should improve safety, upgrade how vehicles deliver fuel to the base, and will increase the speed in which fuel can be made available to aircraft on the installation.

Working with contractor NOVA Group Inc., the project officially began in November 2020 with an estimated two-year completion date. The team overcame challenges to meet the two-year completion schedule, wrapping up on-time with the November 29 ribbon-cutting event. 

The Fresno Fuels project was a Design-Bid-Build effort, designed by Austin Brockenbrough & Associates, LLC, and constructed by Prime Contractor NOVA Group Inc.  NOVA was supported by 23 subcontractors. The Fresno Air National Guard provided constant support throughout the construction duration.

A Team effort

It takes a team to push complex projects like these through to completion. The following teammates and partners all played a role in and deserve a shoutout, said Travis.

USACE Team:

Bill Groeninger, Robert Stokes, Adam Rauch, Janet Patev, Jennifer Travis, Barry Combs, DeAnna Wagner, Melissa DeNigris, MSG Wysocki, Carlton Jones, Leon Terry, Jeff Karl, Carlos Montoya, Felipe Leon, Matt Highstreet, Jessica Morelli, Jessequa Parker, Eric Bausch, Michael Merwald, Matthew Olijnek, Dustin Scheuffele, and John Travis.