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Hickam, Pearl Harbor join installation support services, becomes Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam

  • Published
  • By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert Stirrup
  • Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM --  Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base held a ceremony to unveil Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Jan. 31. The ceremony was held to mark the beginning of the transition period, called initial operational capability.

"It is truly an honor as we stand here and bring these two historic bases together today," said Capt. Richard Kitchens, commander, JBPHH. "The Navy and Air Force share the same goals with passion and pride, and with the joining of forces today, we will be able to further our partnership between the two services."

Col. Giovanni Tuck, 15th Airlift Wing commander, expressed the significance of joining the two bases together.

"With the combining of forces, we will bring unity along with excellence into the future. I look forward to seeing a strong partnership prosper when we merge bases together today," Tuck said. "Just because we are creating something new here today, the history of Hickam Air Force Base and Naval Station Pearl Harbor will never be forgotten."

During the ceremony, the JBPHH seal was unveiled and Sailors and Airmen opened up and removed the Aloha Aina Park pedestrian gate which separated the two bases.

Kitchens and Tuck then symbolically joined a traditional Hawaiian lei together, marking the beginning of the JBPHH IOC.

Kitchens said he looked forward to the future of JBPHH's tradition continuing to grow. "There is plenty of history and tradition that is already involved with Pearl Harbor and Hickam," said Kitchens. "I know and I anticipate that there will only be plenty of good things involved with JBPHH that will continue to add to that history and tradition."

The IOC will last until Oct. 1, 2010 when Full Operational Capability will take effect. At that time all resources, property, personnel and authority for installation management functions will transfer to the Navy, which was designated by Base Realignment and Closure law to be the lead agency for the new installation.

Kitchens is the joint base commander and Col. Charles Baumgardner, commander, 15th Mission Support Group, 15th Airlift Wing, is the deputy joint base commander. Mission commanders and other tenants will remain in charge of their units. The joint base commanders will report to Rear Adm. Dixon Smith, commander, Navy Region Hawaii.