On Wednesday, Aug. 31, the Washington National Guard cut the ribbon in front of its new facility on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The 104,000 square foot structure will serve as the 66th Theater Aviation Command (TAC) Readiness Center.

The 66th Theater Aviation Command has units spread across 11 states and is one of only two Theater Aviation Commands in the Army. More than 700 citizen Soldiers from Washington state serve in the 66th TAC, many of whom are currently downrange. Over the next four months, more of the unit's citizen Soldiers will be deploying as well.

"I am excited to move into my new office and was told by the boss it will be kept warm while I am gone," said Col. Stephen Kent, commander of the 66th TAC, with a laugh. "Today we are here to celebrate and tomorrow, back to work."

"This building is state-of-the-art and you've earned every brick here with your hard work," said Brig. Gen. Bret Daugherty, commander of the Washington Army National Guard.

Up until now, the 66th TAC was located in an old WWII barracks not far from where they broke ground on the new building. The three-story readiness center, which has an auditorium, service kitchen, administrative offices and room for equipment storage, was even given a LEED Silver rating by the U.S. Green Building Council.   

According to Daugherty, though this project is the biggest and most expensive in Washington Army National Guard history, the two-year construction, done by Wade Perrow Construction of Gig Harbor, finished on time and under the originally estimated budget of $21.7 million.

In fact, prior opening the doors for tours, Daugherty presented Lt. Col. Robert Hodgman of the 66th TAC, who had served as the project manager, with the Meritorious Service Medal.

Photo caption: Spc. Coby Parmenter, 66th Theater Aviation Command Soldier of the Year; Ken Tepley of Wade Perrow Construction, Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, adjutant general of the State of Washington; Brig. Gen. Bret Daugherty, commander of the Washington Army National Guard; and Col. Stephen Kent, 66th TAC commander, from left, work together to cut the ribbon on the new, state-of-the-art Readiness Center on JBLM Main.