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New CEG activates, welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katherine Tereyama
  • Joint Base Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  In an historic first for the joint base, the 87th Civil Engineer Group activated as its members welcomed their new commander in a ceremony here July 1.

The group, which was previously under the 87th Mission Support Group as a squadron, has been stood up to compensate for increases in acreage and facilities since the assimilation of the joint base.

As the civil engineer squadron for McGuire Air Force Base, the now 87th CEG was responsible for 3,600 acres and 502 facilities. The unit now supports the nation's only tri-service joint base, which in turn means an increase of responsibility to 42,000 acres of property and more than 5,000 facilities.

"This is yet one more step in our joint base journey," said Col. Frederick D. Thaden, joint base and 87th Air Base Wing commander. "The lens through which we view our civil engineering efforts has certainly changed... Indeed, our civil engineers found themselves supporting an immense amount of land, facilities and personnel."

The new structure includes a group dedicated to civil engineering and two subordinate squadrons responsible for facility and installation management and maintenance; explosives ordnance disposal; fire protection; readiness support; emergency response and operations; and more.

Accordingly, the group also welcomes a new commander to oversee these efforts.

"Standing up a dedicated group with a board-selected colonel at the lead made good sense," Thaden continued. "It was the right thing to do for our engineers and it was the right thing to do for our joint base mission partners."

Col. Gregory McClure has extensive experience in a joint environment, having spent the past six years at two joint bases. He comes to the joint base after serving as Air Force Portfolio Management Division for the Air Force Civil Engineer Center at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

"Greg is a veteran of joint basing - you might say he helped write the book... I can't wait to see the great things he and his team will do," said Thaden.

McClure took the opportunity to address his new service members and civil service employees and thank them for their continued dedication.

"The men and women of the 87th CEG have been and will continue to be a great performing team across the broad spectrum of services we provide," he said. "I am very proud to be joining these fine service members today."

In addition to the group activation and assumption of command portions of the ceremony, the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron was reassigned under the CEG and the 787th Civil Engineer Squadron was activated. Lt. Col. Mark R. Stevens assumed command and Linda Chominski assumed leadership of their respective squadrons.

The group is now responsible for 68 percent of the air base wing's budget, 64 square miles of land, 69 contiguous miles around the perimeter of the joint base, six runways, two airfields and more than 1,000 personnel.