Ellsworth, community leaders sign new initiative

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Hada
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Base and community leaders gathered at the University Center in Rapid City, S.D., to sign a charter solidifying a new community partnership initiative, Jan. 30.

During the event, several organizations signed the initiative designed to leverage military installation and local community capabilities and resources to reduce costs in support of the Air Force mission.

"The core principle behind our public-private partnerships initiative at Ellsworth is to find areas that benefit both parties and enhance our combat readiness, either directly or indirectly," said Col. Kevin Kennedy, 28th Bomb Wing commander.

This new initiative follows the Community Partnership program passed recently by Congress. Ellsworth is one of 13 bases nationwide that have volunteered to help pioneer the new program.

One of the many organizations involved in the agreement is the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The university penned a memorandum of understanding between it and the 28th Bomb Wing allowing engineering students to collaborate with Airmen on mutually beneficial projects designed to increase work efficiency and readiness.

"The initiative we are starting with the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron is an excellent example," Kennedy said. "We will benefit by being able to leverage their expertise for projects we need to accomplish across the base, while the Mines students will gain valuable real world experience."

Heather Wilson, SDSM&T president, said that the school is well known for its hands-on, real world approach to building engineering students.

"Almost all of our students are required to do senior projects to earn their degrees," Wilson said. "We look forward to having more of our students solve problems for Ellsworth through this agreement. This partnership reflects our strengthening relationship intended to solve problems, reduce costs and increase combat readiness for the Air Force."

Lt. Col. Susan Lynch, 28th Communications Squadron commander and key player in the community partnership initiative, said that this is a very exciting time for both Ellsworth and the community, and that she looks forward to planning and coordinating future initiatives and projects.

"We are setting the stage for mutual partnerships to come," Lynch said. "It is very exciting for our engineers to get innovative ideas from the students and for the students to learn from our engineers."

Also at the event the 28th Medical Group and Regional Health signed a medical cross-training certificate, which will allow for phase one classroom room training between the two organizations.