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Show H INSIDE: Hill AFB, Utah www.hillteptimes.com hilitcp.pahi!l.af.mi! Vol. 53 No. 47, November 27, 2002 84056-582- 4 New department coordinates security n Readiness exercise a i by Jim Garamcne -- American Forces Press Service n d!"1 When President Bush signed the HomeWASHINGTON land Security Bill into law Tuesday, he established a new cabinet-level department to ensure the safety of fee American people. Before Bush signed the bill in a White House ceremony, he announced he will nominate former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to be the first secretary of Homeland Security. He also said he will nominate Navy Secretary Gordon England to be deputy at the 170,000-workagency. The new department will analyze threats, guard borders, coordinate national responses and focus the "full resources of the American government on the safety of its people," Bush said. The measure passed Congress with bipartisan support It had been held up because of concerns about a provision that would allow the president to shift workers to areas where they were needed. Critics said the new rules would erode federal service protections. Administration officials said managers needed more flexibility to protect America. Bush thanked union leaders present at the signing ceremony. "We look forward to working with you to make sure that your people are treated fairly in this new department,' he said. The bill is a response to the Sept. 1 1 attacks in New York and Washington. The idea was to place all federal agencies involved with homeland security under one umbrella. The few exceptions are the military, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. Bush said the government is doing everything it can to enhance security at airports, power plants and border crossings. "We've deployed detection equipment to look for weapons of mass destruction," he said. "We've given law enforcement better tools to detect and disrupt terrorist cells which might be hiding in our own country." He said the Homeland Security Act is the "next logical step" in defending America. The act amalgamates 22 agencies into one department. To succeed in their mission, leaders of the new department must change the culture of many diverse agencies, directing all of them toward the principal objective of protecting the American people," Bush said. "The effort will take time and focus and steady resolve." He said adjustments in the department will be needed as this is the largest reorganization of the U.S. government since the 1947 act that established the Defense Department He said the new department would analyze information collected by U-- intelligence agencies and. match that against American vulnerabilities. The new agency will work with other agencies, the private sector, and state and local governments to harden America's defenses against terror, Bush stated. The agency will focus on safeguarding the U.S. computer network, and defend against the growing threat of chemical, biological or nuclear assaults. The Department of Homeland Security will be one point of contact for state and local officials and place security for all U.S. transportation systems under one roof. k o """S , er V. HiTm-- ! r Photos by Karl Til ton Throe Hill AFB fire department Ml -- rescue crews responded to an exercise scenario involving a two-ca- r collision, Nov. 21, as part of Ogden Air Logistics Center Operational Readiness Exercise activities last week. The crewmembers stabilized the 'victims' and Tim Jones, left, uses the jaws of life to pry open a car door while exercise evaluation team members looked on to assess their jo Hll S. a 'Family Day' authorized for Friday As part of the Thanksgiving holiday, Friday has been authorized as Team Hill Family Day: According to a memo from. Maj. Gen. Scott Bergren, Ogden ALC commander, reduced manning for military members is authorized, based on mission requirements. Liberal leave is also available to civilian employees. "In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, we wish to offer our Team Hill employees the opportunity to spend an extended Thanksgiving ! t holiday with family and friends," r See Hoars, page 4 o Engineers monitor temperature, steam Activities on Hill AFB don't stop when the sun goes down many areas operate tiie warfiiter, mainbase assets, protecting morale or taining preparing for the next day. This Hill at Night series explores the people and places that keep Ike base and the Air Force operating. around-Ihedocksupporii- Mill J ...r- - is? j. by Gary Boyta Hilltop Times staff n From the air that comes through the vents to the snow that is removed from the runway, Civil Engineering works around the clock every day of the yean. Military and civilians using teamwork to keep Hill's mission for America's Air Force working. Hill's mission depends on climate control to keep the work force comfortable and to test equipment From the steam tables at Club Hill to the hangers along the flightline, temperature conl. trol is "We monitor 450 buildings, including 214 where the temperature must be kept within one degree of the optimal area to meet the specifications of the job load and remain in government specifications," said Terry Behunin, Energy Management Control Systems utility operator. Through a computer system we're able to monitor and control the temperature and locate any breakdowns. We can tell which fan has gone down or where there is a power outage. If we can't fix it from here we send out a craftsman and can tell that person where the problem is. There are about 3,200 points we monitor so being able to tell the craftsman exactly where to go is an obvious advantage."' On the computer screen is the image of the air handler unit, which has ducts that go off into separate rooms. Vents located in each separate room control the temperature. Sensors within the system alert the operator to any problems and where those are located. From the CE trouble desk in Bldg. 15, job orders come in regularly throughout the night Behunin will dispatch work crews to fix broken water fines or if there is a power problem. Civil Engineering also sets up the cement barricades that were positioned at entry points shortly after the terrorist attacks last year. "We can build a temporary runway during an exercise or real world situation. We act as the unit control center during those situations and if an aircraft goes down well go out to the site and mark off the area. But our main job is controlling the heat and air conditioning," said Behunin, who has been working at Hill for 24 years, much of that at night T like working at night, I feel t V 5 Hi &0 lit t! (- -; mission-essentia- o6r copy! j, . t "01-- - Photo by Gary Boy la Boyd Wright takes readings from boilers that create the steam to heat the base. like I can accomplish a lot more with less people around, but to work at this hour you have to know what you're doing." Much of Hill is heated by steam, which is significantly less expensive than gas or electrical heating. Four boiler room stations on base, some remote boiler rooms located on the west area and a station at Little Mountain by Ogden create this reusable resource. In addition to creating heat for both die fighter wings, the hangers along the flightline, offices, and the airmen's dorms, steam heats the steam tables at Club HiiL provides steam for the steam cleaners, and heats the water for showers. "We can't let anybody get cold, so we're here 247. We just work eight-hou-r shifts because we don't have a lunch break, we can't leave the equipment We maintain and operate the equipment" said Boiler Plant Operator Boyd Wright who has been working at Hill since 1986 after serving in the Navy. The equipment in the main boiler room located Bldg. 260 ranges in age from the 1950s through the 1990s and is controlled by a See Engineers, page 4 |