Civil Engineer Squadron Builds up Spangdahlem

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexis Siekert
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Without the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Spangdahlem would not exist the way it does today.

Drivers wouldn't have roads, Airmen wouldn't have offices, and no one would have electricity, plumbing or heat. Repairs would not be made, and new facilities would not be built.

The Civil Engineer Squadron builds Spangdahlem.

"Everything you see -- from the office you work in, the roads you drive on, to lights you turn on and the heat that keeps your office comfortable," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mario Rainge, 52nd CES Fire Emergency Services flight NCO in charge of fire prevention from Glendale, Ariz. "We touch every aspect of this base, that's all civil engineering. We are everywhere."

The 52nd CES supports the 52nd Fighter Wing, 17 geographically separated units, 246 military family houses and five Department of Defense Dependent School at Spangdahlem and Bitburg annex by providing programming, design and construction, operation and maintenance, disaster preparedness, fire protection and crash rescue, housing, explosive ordnance disposal and environmental support.

"We have a huge mission and we are an all-encompassing squadron," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Arthur Roy, 52nd CES Operations Flight superintendant from Gorham, N.H. "We are responsible for everything from the flightline to the wastewater treatment facility and everything in between. We've got a piece of everything to support the base mission."

The CES accomplishes its mission by braking down its team of more than 650 people into six flights and 13 specific jobs. The flights include operations, engineering, installation management, fire and emergency services, readiness and emergency management, and explosive ordnance disposal.

They are responsible for 2,800 facilities and $5 Billion of infrastructure that support more than 12,000 personnel. The flight also manages a $56 million annual budget and a $300 million construction program.

While this job may seem challenging, Roy said he has a winning team. In 2013 alone, the 52nd CES earned first place in U.S. Air Forces in Europe's Large CE unit contest and the Air Force's number one readiness and emergency management flight.

"These recognitions are just a testament to the quality of people we have here," Roy added.

While winning awards may feel great, that is not what makes CE such a successful squadron, the chief explained.

"We help people -- if someone has a problem, they are calling us to help them out," he said. "We can have a huge impact on the base, but no one ever thinks of us - until something is wrong. We want to stay behind the scenes, but we enjoy serving."

With CE here to stay, all of the broken items are fixed, the base stays clean and the projects continue to keep Spangdahlem safe and functional.