Dover State of the Base highlights new construction, re-supply missions for USAF

DOVER, Del. – Members of Delaware’s congressional delegation visited Dover Air Force Base Monday, as part of the annual state of the base address. Senator Chris Coons says the base is an economic driver and world-class investment that he is always working to help get access to federal funds.

“Dover Air Force Base is an amazing community of 5000 men and women who serve our country, but there’s also 36 construction projects worth over $180 million going on right now, the direct impact of all this construction work, all this investment in our broader Dover community and in the Air Force base is tremendous,” Senator Coons said.

During the State of the Base address members of the Air Force highlighted how they are putting those resources to work, helping to re-supply U.S. allies in Ukraine, aid in earthquake response in Turkey, and more.

“Logistics and resupply wins or loses wars, so when the men and women of Dover, who are critical to the resupply of our troops and our forces, our allies and our partners around the world demonstrate that they are state of the art and world-class that improves our readiness and our deterrence,” Senator Coons said.

Members of the Airforce say a new hangar project will allow them to load up the latest jets regardless of weather conditions, increasing turnaround and crew safety.

“We are just about to complete one of the larger hangars as part of this multi-hangar project this spring, What that allows is our maintenance individuals to be able to work inside in an enclosed environment, allowing them to get the work done no matter what the conditions are outside,” said Commander, 436th Airlift Wing Col. William Christopher McDonald.

Another project is seeking to bring a $30 million blood donation storage facility to the base as well, allowing that aid to be brought to the front lines as part of resupply missions.

Col. McDonald tells 47 ABC WMDT that funding is just as important for resources on the base, as the equipment and missions being launched from it, including a shortage of housing on the base they are working to help remedy.

“Right now some of our airmen, our junior airmen are having to live off base Once we get those extra 168 beds back, they’ll be able to live on base and that helps them a little bit with their finances,” he said.

Senator Tom Carper tells 47 ABC WMDT he has been working to get the base resources since he started in the Senate. He says the men and women who protect us deserve the best resources.

“We want to make sure that the schools that we have here are just excellent schools that are well-built and well-staffed, and the kids who go to school here have a chance to grow up and be anything they want to be,” Senator Carper said.

Col. McDonald tells 47 ABC WMDT they hope the new hangar will be completed within the next six months.