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Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, Florida's first chief resilience officer, visited Tyndall Air Force Base Dec. 10, to see the Tyndall AFB Program Management Office's plans to develop and rebuild a resilient "Installation of the Future."
"We are extremely excited to have Dr. Nesheiwat with us here today to not only learn about what we're doing and how we're doing it, but also to build advocacy for us at the state level," said Brig. Gen. Patrice Melancon, PMO executive director.
The main responsibility of the CRO is to prepare Florida for the environmental, physical and economic impacts of sea level rise and develop resilience goals that will help protect coastal communities.
The installation leadership team briefed Nesheiwat on the current state of the installation and the commitment to incorporate resiliency, innovation and technology as main components of the rebuild plans. With these pillars at the core of the rebuild, the process is of particular interest to Nesheiwat.
"Tyndall is very unique," Nesheiwat said. "I'm seeing some of these new technologies and innovations that are very central to this area. Tyndall certainly has unique innovations I think will be very important for our national security."
She toured the installation to see the progress as Tyndall AFB transitions from recovery to rebuild after Hurricane Michael.
"It's good to look at best practices and how we look to rebuild, but at the same time, we've got to prepare for that next hurricane or that next natural disaster," Nesheiwat said. "We're getting stronger storms and higher seas."
During her visit, she spoke to the press about the value of Tyndall AFB and the resiliency measures being taken.
"There's no doubt resiliency is more than just a disaster relief issue," she said. "It's a national security issue. To hear about the technology and innovation is really important to be able to advocate and collaborate with other partners to help such an important military installation. It's certainly the lifeblood of the economy here and the community."
The visit solidified an important alliance for the Tyndall AFB Program Management Office.
From left to right, Brig. Gen. Patrice Melancon, Tyndall Program Management Office executive director; Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, Florida chief resilience officer; and Dr. Jeff Owens, Air Force Civil Engineer research scientist, observe a 3D printer producing materials for testing. Nesheiwat and her staff toured the base to get a view of the progress as the base rebuilds from the ground up to become the "Base of the Future." (U.S. Air Force photo by Veronica Kemeny)
Brig. Gen. Patrice Melancon, Tyndall Program Management Office executive director, hosted Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, Florida chief resilience officer, during a with personnel from Tyndall AFB and the PMO. Along with Col. Travis Leighton, Tyndall PMO director, the group is pictured in front of the demolished Civil Engineer Squadron building. Nesheiwat toured the base to get a view of the progress underway as the base rebuilds from the ground up to become the "Base of the Future." (U.S. Air Force photo by Veronica Kemeny)
