What we do in Denmark Published Jan. 28, 2010 By Maj. Antonio Gonzalez 21st Contracting Squadron, Detachment 1 commander COPENHAGEN -- Due to an international agreement established more than half a century ago, the 21st Mission Support Group has a contracting office in Copenhagen, Denmark. An Aide Memoire was signed in 1962 between the U.S. and Denmark allowing the United States to establish Thule Air Base in Greenland. In return, the United States would establish a buying office in Copenhagen to maximize Danish participation in procurement projects. Detachment 1 of the 21st Contracting Squadron is the result of that agreement. Based on that agreement, the mission of Det. 1, 21st CONS, is to acquire all supplies, services, and subsistence from Danish and Greenlandic sources, and construction from Danish, Greenlandic or U.S. sources, when feasible. Along with teaming with U.S. Embassy officials, our mission is to deliver contracting expertise and advice to multiple mission partners with our in-depth Danish/Greenlandic corporate knowledge. We provide contracting solutions to our customers. The Thule Base maintenance contract is the largest operational and management services contract at the 21st Space Wing. It is an exciting location in Scandinavia for an Air Force unit, but it also comes with its challenges and opportunities. Det. 1 is located in the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen and has a multinational team of seven to carry out its mission. It is also part of the U.S. Ambassador's team, and each section head in the embassy, including the detachment commander, is part of the "country team." The ambassador meets with the country team at least once a week in a formal staff meeting. Because Greenland is a territory of Denmark, the ambassador is interested in the events at Thule Air Base and depends on us to keep the country team informed. The commander and his contracting officer are also part of a permanent committee consisting of members from Danish and Greenlandic ministries to discuss Air Force Space Command's role and contributions to the economy. One of our major efforts currently is to support the Thule consolidation plan. Thule was originally built in the early 1950s employing 10,000 people; it now consists of about 550 personnel including military, U.S. civilian contractors, and Danish and Greenlandic contractors. With the 50 year old facilities, it is expensive to maintain and the squadron is involved with the plan to reduce the footprint of the base and create efficiencies to save on energy costs. Like the rest of the 21st SW, Det. 1 is close-knit family that takes pride in successfully accomplishing its exciting mission of teaming with mission partners and developing, deploying and caring for our Warrior Airmen who defend America and our Allies.