Malmstrom's ICC officially opens for business

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  What was once the vision of a former wing commander is now a reality as Malmstrom leadership cut the ribbon March 2 to officially open the new Installation Control Center.

"It's hard to look around this facility and not see how effectively Team Malmstrom worked together to make this day a reality," said Col. Robert Stanley, 341st Missile Wing vice commander, prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony. "It was a total collaborative effort."

In 2006, then Brig. Gen. Tom Deppe, 20th Air Force commander, supported the ICC concept and after going through several design processes, construction on the $2.26 million facility got underway in November, 2008.

The purpose of the ICC is to co-locate several key 24/7 work centers in the wing. Housed there on a permanent basis are the wing command post, the missile maintenance operations center, missile security center, transportation control center, and the maintenance plans and scheduling center. It is also furnished to house the crisis action team, emergency operations center, initial response force and response task force, and a weather cell and other agencies as required during contingency operations.

"This ICC will give the wing commander one central command and control facility from which he can operate during contingencies or day-to-day operations," said Capt. Trent Ricketts, project manager of the ICC. "The 24/7 work centers facilitate decision-making and long-range planning, allowing optimization of resources while maintaining overall situational awareness."

The ICC contains more than $500,000 in communication equipment including a 32 foot by 60 foot fully integrated video wall.

"We are fortunate to have such a state-of-the-art facility to conduct our strategic deterrence mission from," Stanley said. "This amazing facility is a true force multiplier for our wing."

This is the only ICC in Air Force Global Strike Command, according to Ricketts, making it another first for the Air Force's newest command.