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KEEPING THEIR COOL: HVAC Keeps Critical Base Functions Running

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samuel O'Brien
  • 332d Air Expeditionary Wing

As spring shifts to summer, U.S. Air Force Airmen walk into their work centers every day and feel one major thing.  Cool air.

“That’s the thing people really notice, so that’s what they focus on.  But we actually have a lot of other things we work on that are really crucial to the mission,” says Tech Sgt. Nicholas Mann, 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration non-commissioned officer in charge.

The HVAC flight recently completed full installation of a new air conditioning system for the 332d Expeditionary Weapons Squadron munitions flight, so crucial munitions could be built in a more comfortable setting.

They also repaired a fan cooling system connected to a 332d Expeditionary Communications Squadron satellite that is responsible for connectivity and communication throughout the region.  It recently experienced a loss of power to its coolant system.

“This is our bread and butter, this is the thing we really love to come out here and do,” said Senior Airman John Dominish, 332d ECES HVAC technician.  “We know this is really making an impact on the mission and making sure that other people are able to keep doing really important work.”

And as summer kicks into full gear their responsibility will only become greater.

“It gets a lot worse.  The heat out here is intense and as good as these systems are, they can only take so much without regular maintenance,” says Dominish.  “That’s why we’re out here.  Sometimes we’re called, sometimes we’re just doing checks and trying to make sure we don’t need to be called later.”