Hickam breaks ground on CDC expansion Published April 9, 2007 By 2nd Lt. Melanie McLean 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs HICKAM AFB, HI -- A groundbreaking ceremony on base Monday at the Child Development Center signaled the start of a three-phase expansion of the currently maxed-out facility. Services and15th Civil Engineering Squadron devised a creative plan to greatly expand the number of available slots, according to CDC Flight Chief Beth Hodge. With no room to grow outward, architects and designers had to restrict their plan to within the playground fence line, said Ms. Hodge. In 2005, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Headquarters Air Force Services' Child Care Emergency Intervention Strategy assisted Hickam in meeting the growing demand for additional child-care spaces. Hickam was allocated $5 million to construct classrooms and renovations for the CDC's and the School Age Program adding 176 new child-care spaces in total, according to Col. Jeffrey L. Stephenson, 15th Airlift Wing vice commander. "The 15th Airlift Wing recognizes the growing need for affordable child care and is committed to providing the very best child care for our families," said Colonel Stephenson. "We have made great strides preparing the way ahead for the CDC and School Age construction projects." This is in an effort to get children off of the waiting list, which is one of the largest in PACAF, according to Hodge. "We've been waiting for this for a long time," said Hodge. Construction was scheduled to begin Tuesday. The community demonstrated their excitement for the project with smiles all around as Col. Stephenson initiated the groundbreaking. "Let's turn some dirt and make this a reality," he said.