OCR Text |
Show ItT IM E S 7 Picnic launches HAFB literacy program Summer reading program kicks off the summer with its 'Paws to Read' event BY SARAH STOLL Hilltop Times correspondent The 75th Force Support Squadron's Summer Reading Program kicked off Wednesday, June 11 at the Hill Air Force Base Library. This year's theme of "Paws to Read" launched with activities for two age groups: 3-7 years and 8-12 years. Airmen Leadership School students stepped up to help out at the event by manning all the games and the grills. Outside of the library, families lined up for delicious summer picnic food, a bouncy castle and obstacle course games. Inside the library, children enjoyed popcorn, crafts and the movie "The Nut Job." Children in attendance also received a welcome bag containing a reading log, a pencil, and other fun prizes. "The summer reading program is easy," said event coordinator, Bridget Endsley. The children read books and earn prizes, Endsley said. The program will host several reading events throughout the summer with activities incor- porating the Summer Reading Program theme "Paws to Read." These special reading events will be held on June 19, June 25, July 10, and July 17. The program will run Wednesday, June 11 through June 25 for all children ages 3-12 years." Endsley noted the reason she enjoys the reading events is because "the focus of the summer reading program is fun, but there are many benefits to our program. Children complete their library reading logs and in the process build vocabulary and comprehension skills. These skills are essential for brain development and school readiness." To learn more about the "Paws to Read" program, please call the library at 801-777-2533. "Summer Reading is more than keeping reading logs and earning prizes," Endsley said. "Sharing and developing a love of reading is one of the most important gifts we can give our children." California company to manage Hill electricity LESSONS LEARNED BY MITCH SHAW Hilltop Times staff TODD CROMAR/U.S. Air Force Women leaders in informational technology on Thursday discuss lessons they've gleaned from their careers. Education and soliciting input cited as keys to success BY DANA RIMINGTON Hilltop Times correspondent HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Several women leaders in informational technology met on Thursday to discuss essential lessons they've gleaned from their careers and what they would have done differently. Susan Madsen, professor of management at Utah Valley University, told the audience of men and women how crucial it is for women to step into leadership positions. "I think each of us has a role and obligation to become the best of what we can become and be leaders to help others who need our voices as strength," said Madsen. "As we women develop in leadership, it can lead to change, whether it be in our schools, churches or legislature, but wornen can be powerful voices, and I encourage all of us to move forward and do that in our lives." Joni Bubak, senior IT manager with the Internal Revenue Service, said one of the most important pieces of advice she could give is that "education and learning go hand in hand." See WOMEN I Page 10 HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Late last week, the Air Force signed a $281.6 million contract with City Light & Power Inc., based in Long Beach, California, to take over all of the electrical utility work at Hill Air Force Base for the next 50 years. The 50-year contract, which was executed by Defense Logistics Agency Energy, privatizes the base's entire electrical distribution system, essentially allowing Hill to shift from the role of owner-operator to that of customer. As defense funding has been cut over the past few decades, maintaining Air Force utility systems fell to the bottom of the priority list, said Rick Weston, who heads the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Utilities Privatization program management office. As a consequence, he said, utility systems at Air Force installations have degraded substantially over the past 30 years. "Utilities privatization allows military installations to obtain safe utility systems that meet current industry standards. Maintaining utility systems is no longer a core competency of the Air Force. Private industry does it day in and day out, so they can normally do it cheaper than we can." At Hill, CL&P plans to invest approximately $5 million during the first year of the contract to bring Hill's electrical systems up to industry standards. The CL&P deal is the second multimillion-dollar utility privatization contract Hill has signed this year. In January, the Air Force signed See UTILITY I Page 8 ICBM WORK EXTENDED AT HILL AIR FORCE BASE Air Force to pay Lockheed to maintain Minuteman III through 2030 BY MITCH SHAW Hilltop Times staff HILL AIR FORCE BASE — The Air Force will pay Lockheed Martin what could be nearly a half-billion dollars to continue maintaining and developing systems for the Department of Defense's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. The contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., a division of the Lockheed Martin Corp. based out of Jefferson County, Colorado, and the work associated with it will take place at ICBM facilities at Hill Air Force Base and in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The initial value of the contract is $109 million for engineering and maintenance work on the warhead re-entry vehicles for the Minuteman III ICBM, but Lockheed spokeswoman Lynn Fisher said options in the contract for performance and additional work years make the total potential contract value $452 million. Doug Graham, vice president of ICBM and advanced programs at Lockheed, said the company has a 50-year partnership with the Air Force and its ICBM enterprise. The company is currently working with the Air Force to support its refurbishment activities at Hill. The Department of Defense has a current stash of 450 landbased ICBM missiles stored in silos across the western United States. The Pentagon is in the process of removing 50 those missiles from launch silos as part of a plan to bring the U.S. into compliance with a 2011 "New START" arms control treaty with Russia. The resulting launch-ready total of 400 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles would be the lowest deployed ICBM total since the early 1960s. The 50 unarmed ICBM missiles will eventually be stored at Hill. Although the missiles will be unarmed while they are kept at Hill, they will be stored in such a way that they are reusable and the silos the missiles are removed from are planned to be kept in "warm" status to maintain weapon system integrity. The new contract is part of the Air Force's Future ICBM Sustainment and Acquisition Construct, which is designed to ensure a safe, secure and reliable Minuteman III weapon system through 2030. Lockheed Martin has been the principal designer, manufacturer and sustainer of Minuteman III reentry systems since the 1960s. The corporation's net sales for 2013 were 845.4 billion. Standard-Examiner file photo The Falcon Hill ICBM Building stands at Hill Air Force Base. The Pentagon is in the process of removing 50 ICBMs from launch silos as part of a plan to bring the U.S. into compliance with a 2011 "New START" arms control treaty with Russia. The unarmed missiles will be stored at Hill. |