FRANKFORT, Ky. –
Kentucky Guardsmen and state leadership were on hand as ground was broken for the new Joint Force Headquarters building on Boone National Guard Center Oct. 26.
The building has been twenty years in the making will be the first structure in the history of the Kentucky National Guard built solely for command and control of the KYNG.
The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky joined other Kentucky leaders to celebrate the occasion.
“Today I’m proud to join the Kentucky National Guard to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Joint Force Headquarters facility, a project 20 years in the making,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This facility will make a difference in the way our brave Guard members serve and protect Kentuckians – and there is no better time than after this challenging year to ensure these heroes have the resources they need to serve.”
During his remarks he went on to thank the Soldiers and Airmen for their hard work and dedication over the last 18-months aiding with COVID-19 response as well as the many other missions accomplished.
"You all work tirelessly, never complain and answer the call, each and every time," said Beshear. "We see so much of the goodness that I believe makes us Kentuckians in your actions, each and every day. This groundbreaking today and even this center, is the least that we can do to support you."
The largely federally funded building’s construction is expected to be complete by September of 2023. The two-story facility will consist of some 67,725 square feet and will consolidate the locations of the command group’s Army and Air assets.
“Up to this point, Joint Force Headquarters has done a phenomenal job with its distributed locations we operate from,” said Brig. Gen. Steve King, construction and facility officer. “This facility will allow our Adjutant General to conduct mission command over our Army National Guard forces out of one facility and have his key personnel there available to him in this structure. If you look at the missions the Guard has responded to -- not only globally, but domestically -- we have a high operational tempo, and this facility will make us that much better and that much more efficient.”
Prior to the ground breaking ceremony, the governor promoted Brig. Gen. Haldane Lamberton to Major General.
The newly promoted Adjutant General spoke on the importance of the new facility and how it will add to the legacy of what is an ever-changing dichotomy of the National Guard.
“This shows the evolution of the Kentucky National Guard as a viability entity, not just for the commonwealth but nationally for the DOD (Department of Defense),” said Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton. “It’s projects like this that allow us to keep moving forward.”
The building will sit on the former site of the Combined Support Maintenance Shop, which was the very first building constructed at Boone Center. Built in 1958, it was finally removed in 2018 to prepare for the new JFHQ building. The CSMS is now located at the Richmond Field Maintenance shop 4.
In closing out his remarks, the TAG told the crowd his first job in the Kentucky Guard was at the old CSMS, and that he anticipates a rare opportunity to finish his career in the same location he started it.