(Left to right): Lt. Col. Marc Peterson, Col. James J. Muscatell, Jr., Col. Jay Raymond and Master Sgt. Jason Winer cut the ribbon Dec. 16, 2008, to the newly-combined Peterson Installation Control Center at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The combined control center, an Air Force Smart Operations-21 initative, consolidates active duty and Air Force Reserve command post resources into one location. The new command post is expected to create efficiencies that will save the taxpayers money. Colonel Peterson is the PICC's director, Colonel Muscatell is commander of the 302nd Airlift Wing, Colonel Raymond is commander of the 21st Space Wing and Sergeant Winer is a 302nd AW command post technician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Stephen J. Collier)

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21st Space Wing, 302nd Airlift Wing consolidate command posts

Published Dec. 18, 2008
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Signaling a move toward greater teamwork between active-duty and reserve forces here, Peterson unveiled its newly consolidated command post Dec. 16.

The integrated Peterson Installation Control Center will serve as the command post for both the 21st Space Wing and the 302nd Airlift Wing, a Peterson tenant unit. The change is part of an Air Force-wide mandate to consolidate command posts where possible, which saves money and effort as a result of combined resources.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony for the center, Col. Jay Raymond, 21st SW commander, praised the consolidation effort and said he hopes it's the first of many.

"It makes perfect sense to have one command post on an installation," he said. "I hope this is just one example of the many ways we can come together in the future."

The consolidation has been roughly a year in the making. Representatives from the 21st SW and the 302nd AW met regularly for months to work out the details required to combine the two post's financial and equipment resources. Throughout November, the command post's controllers went through training sessions together, and, finally, 302nd AW staff made the move to Bldg. 845.

Col. James Muscatell, 302nd AW commander, said all the effort has been worth it. The consolidation benefits Airmen, allowing them to build off each other's strengths, as well as the American taxpayer.

"In this day and age, we don't need to duplicate and triplicate functions," he said. "For the taxpayers, for everyone, this is just the right thing to do."