AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- After a year in the making, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group held a ribbon cutting ceremony to herald the opening of the new 379th EMDG medical administration building here, Nov. 2.
The process of building the facility officially started when the contract was awarded in September of 2015. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headed the project when notified to proceed in October of 2015.
The opening of the new building allows for an expansion of available services in one consolidated location to include mental health, biomedical equipment repair and bioenvironmental engineering services. Housing these teams in one main location will also allow for more efficient interoperability between clinical teams and establish a convenient one-stop-shop for Al Udeid Airmen seeking medical services.
“This facility will allow for more space for our newly arrived apheresis team and give new capability in collecting and supplying blood for transfusions in our area of responsibility,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Veglio, the medical logistics and readiness flight commander with the 379th Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron.
The project was a 379th Air Expeditionary Wing team effort. The 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron activated digital communications and analog phones, the 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron procured, assembled and installed the furniture and assisted in custodial services, while the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron acted as a liaison between the 379th EMDG and the Air Force Civil Engineering Center to ensure their needs were relayed.
Col. Timothy Martinez, the 379th EMDG commander, explained what a huge accomplishment it is to have completed the construction of this facility in such a short time. He and his Airmen are proud of the new building they call home.
“We’re happy to be in an office all together,” said 1st Lt. Lyubomir Angelov, the medical support services flight commander. “This creates a higher quality communication environment between Airmen.”