U.S. Embassy in Denmark sees Thule first-hand

U.S. Embassy visit

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland – A U.S. Embassy in Denmark-sponsored group poses for a photo with members of Thule Air Base during a brief visit here June 18. Pictured from left to right are: Theresa Nielsen, U.S. Embassy management assistant; Chief Master Sgt. Al Herring, 821st Air Base Group superintendent; Inge Bulck, Greenland Contractors site manager; Col. Lee-Volker Cox, 821st ABG commander; Henrik Jepsen, U.S. Embassy senior political specialist; Peter Hummelgaard Thomsen, President of Social Democratic Party Youth Organization; Anne Paulin, International Secretary for Social Democratic Party Youth; Bjarne Fog Corydon, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor for Social Democratic Party leader, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, and head of SDP Political-Economic Department; and Annika Smith, Political Assistant for Greenlandic MP (Siumut), Juliane Henningsen. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Nicole Langley)

Published June 18, 2008
By 1st Lt. Nicole Langley
821st Air Base Group Public Affairs

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- A U.S. Embassy in Denmark-sponsored group received an orientation of the base here June 18.

Included in the group was Bjarne Fog Corydon, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor for Social Democratic Party leader, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and head of SDP Political-Economic Department; Peter Hummelgaard Thomsen, President of Social Democratic Party Youth Organization; Anne Paulin, International Secretary for Social Democratic Party Youth; and Annika Smith, Political Assistant for Greenland MP (Siumut), Juliane Henningsen.

After arriving from Copenhagen, the group spent approximately an hour and a half on the ground, during which time they received the base's mission brief from Col. Lee-Volker Cox, Thule Air Base commander.

In addition to an orientation of the base's missions, the visitors learned about the base's more than $23 million economic impact on Greenland, the Greenland Contractor's Apprentice Program, Operation Julemand and the abundance of scientific research that the base supports.

"Thule Air Base provides critical space superiority capabilities to the U.S. and NATO," Colonel Cox said. "We are extremely proud of our positive impact and influence throughout Greenland, especially our ability to help local youth from the Qaanaaq District."

Although it was a brief tour, the group left with a newfound understanding of what the base does and the positive impact it has on Greenland.