Dedicating a New Satellite Communications Facility in Hawaii

By James Johnson, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii Public Affairs

WAHIAWA, Hawaii (NNS) -- Development of the first global third generation (3G) cellular communications network reached an important milestone March 3, with the dedication of an antenna site at Naval Computers and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Pacific (NCTAMS PAC) in Wahiawa, Hawaii.

The Hawaii site is the first of four antenna installations that are part of a state-of-the-art satellite communications program called Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). The system is intended to improve ground communications capabilities for U.S. forces on the move by adapting a commercial 3G wideband cellular phone network with geosynchronous satellites. It was developed by a partnership that included the Navy Program Executive Office (PEO) for Space Systems, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Dynamics Corporation.

"We're all really excited about providing this 3G capability to the warfighter," said Wayne Curles, PEO Space System's MUOS program manager. "It will provide a significant improvement of communication [resources] to the warfighter. Think about the special operations guys in Afghanistan getting more communications than they get today. Sailors, Soldiers in the field, and Airmen can get the services they so desperately need, and really we all hope that translates into saving lives."

Site preparation was completed by Watts Constructors, LLC, a local Hawaii contractor. Work included the building of three "Earth Terminals" used to support the new antennas, and renovating other buildings. They also poured large concrete pads to support the structures, and built a security fence around the facility.

The $10.8 million firm-fixed price contract was awarded to Watts Constructors, LCC, by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific in March 2007, and the contract was administered by NAVFAC Hawaii Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Wahiawa.

"I wanted to remark on the absolutely outstanding partnering effort between the contractor, the Navy and everyone involved in the project," said Construction Manager Vince Fragomene, Watts Constructors, LLC. "To look at how [the facility] looks right now, it's just incredible."

The Wahiawa site was the first to be completed; it boasts three large antenna dishes that are 60 feet across and weigh approximately 500,000 pounds each. The antennas will eventually be interconnected by satellite with antenna sites in Virginia, Italy, and Australia.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg, what you see here," said John Weidman, vice president, General Dynamics, referring to the antennas. "You don't see all the software and the millions of lines of code that have been written that go behind it."

The dedication was led by Capt. Jack Nicholson, deputy program manager, Navy Communications Satellite Programs, and attended by representatives from Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Dynamics Corporation, the Navy Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Watts Constructors, LLC, and NAVFAC Pacific and Hawaii.

A traditional Hawaiian blessing was given by Rev. William Kaina.

The MUOS is scheduled to provide initial on-orbit capability in 2011 and achieve fully operational capability in 2014.

Navy Constructs New Army Wideband Satellite Communication Operations Center

By Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- A Hawaiian ground-blessing ceremony was held Feb. 20 for a new Army Wideband Satellite Communication Operations Center (WSOC) at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific (NCTAMS PAC), Wahiawa, Oahu.

Representatives from the Army and Navy, as well as the project's contractor, Watts Constructors, LLC, were on hand to witness the blessing of a site for a new Army operations center that will be constructed on a Navy base. The construction will be administered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii.

"This is a unique Hawaiian ceremony and very much a tradition," said Lt. Cmdr. Kirk Lagerquist, resident officer in charge of construction Wahiawa at NAVFAC Hawaii. "I look forward to being a part of this tradition and providing our customer with a safe, professional, and quality project," he said.

The ground-blessing ceremony is important because the lands of Hawaii are considered sacred by its people. In most cases, contractors begin their projects with this traditional blessing to ensure that the construction site and workers are kept safe and the project is successful.

The ceremony concluded when Lt. Col. Patrick Kerr, commander, 53rd Signal Battalion, and Capt. Janet Stewart, commanding officer, NCTAMS PAC, untied the maile lei after a Hawaiian chant was performed.

"We are very excited about this project," said Kerr. "This facility is linked in with five other operational centers around the world providing communications support. This is a great strategic location and we are excited about this project's teamwork and partnership, and are happy to be a part of this joint team," he said.

When completed, the new facility will provide 24-hour satellite control for communications of the Department of Defense (DoD) military wideband satellite communications constellation, as well as commercial satellite communication resources, which the building will also contain.

Currently, the Army unit that controls DoD satellite communication payloads execute their mission in California. However, the approximately 60-person unit will move to Hawaii once the building at NCTAMS PAC is completed and operational.

"We are very, very proud of being a part of your mission and our job is to do the very best we can, providing quality, price, and timing," said Denny Watts, president of Watts Constructors, LLC. "This is important so that when we turn it over to you, the end users, we can all walk away with a lot of pride about what we've done and a sense of accomplishment."

The WSOC project was awarded by NAVFAC Pacific as a firm-fixed price, design-bid-build contract to Watts Constructors, LLC on Dec. 30, 2008 for $25.4 million.

Watts Constructors, LLC, will build a 28,244 square-foot operation center that will enable the Army to provide 24-hour satellite communications. The project will also include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design features that will achieve a silver rating.

The WSOC designed for the Hawaii site will become the prototype for four additional facilities at other locations including Fort Detrick, Md., Landstuhl Heliport in Germany, Fort Meade, Md. and Schiever Air Force Base, Colo. It will be site adaptable to all locations and all WSOCs will be similar in size.

NCTAMS PAC Improve Warfighters' Comms

By MC2 John W. Ciccarelli

Sailors assigned to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific install the first of three new state-of-the-art Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite dishes. The MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system intended to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John W Ciccarelli Jr.

WAHIAWA, Hawaii (NNS) -- Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Pacific (NCTAMS PAC), installed the first of three new state-of-the-art Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite dishes.

The MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system intended to extensively improve ground communications for U.S. forces during operations on the move.

"MUOS is a Department of Defense (DOD) Ultra High Frequency Satellite Communications system(UHFSC) that provides the warfighter with modern worldwide mobile communication services," said James Cairns, NCTAMS PAC, project manager.

"MUOS adapts commercial cellular phone architecture for use in a military system using satellites in place of cell towers."

Technicians raised the 34-ton dish up over 80 feet to its permanent spot where it will point to one of the five highly sophisticated satellites scheduled to be deployed into space starting in 2012.

"The General Dynamics Satellite Communications (SATCOM) team doing the assembly of the MUOS antennas are true professionals," said Cairns. "There was lots of planning that went into this evolution behind the scenes, but once we got all the pieces in place everything went off like clockwork."

Construction on the site began July 5, 2007 and will change the way the Navy transmits information into the 21st Century.

"MUOS will use technological innovations to provide service to more military users and offer a truly effective communication capability tool in accomplishing the Navy's maritime strategy mission."

"The great thing about MUOS is that it's smart technology but from the user's perspective it's simple and just plain works. The network is being designed to handle lots of users so units that don't have a SATCOM capability today will be able to have it in the near future with MUOS."

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the MUOS program. On Sept. 24, 2004, the company was awarded a $2.1 billion contract to build the first two satellites and associated ground control elements for the MUOS system. The contract also provides for options on three additional spacecraft. With all options exercised, the contract for up to five satellites has a total potential value of $3.26 billion.

Capt. Janet Stewart, commanding officer, NCTAMS PAC was thrilled about the installation of the MUOS system and all the hard work the Navy and its partners did.

"A lot of folks and a lot of parties have come together to be able to make this installation, and this capability come to fruition. We have folks around the world and around the United States that have worked together for years and who will continue to work together for years until all the MUOS satellites are in fact launched and fully operational."

Breaking Ground for Reliable Communications Services in the Pacific.

By Denise Emsley, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held, April 25, at Naval Communications and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific (NCTAMS PAC) in Wahiawa, Hawaii for a new, technologically-advanced communications center.

The 63,560 sq. ft. building will be located on the northeastern end of NCTAMS PAC. Currently, the area is an open, grassy field, which had hosted several radio antennas prior to being relocated to facilitate the start of construction. The new structure is to replace building 294, erected in 1959, which can no longer meet today's modern communication equipment and operational needs.

"Our customers, who span 17 times zones across the globe, from Patuxent River, Md., to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, will reap the benefits of our new facility," said Capt. Janet Stewart, commanding officer, NCTAMS PAC. "It will not only provide them with state-of-the-art communications equipment, it will also serve to minimize outages and reduce the time required to restore services when outages do occur. Ultimately, our new operations building will allow the men and women of NCTAMS PAC to continue to do what we do best, to provide the best customer service to our customers, the warfighter."

When completed, the project will provide NCTAMS PAC with a modern, safe, secure, efficient and adaptable facility, enhancing mission operations. It will also consolidate operational support facilities and personnel which are presently dispersed throughout the base.

"It is indeed time we move into the 21st century and work smarter, not harder," said Stewart. "NCTAMS PAC has the most dedicated and technically proficient workforce the Navy has ever seen, and it is time they are rewarded with a building that is designed to maximize their already noteworthy capabilities."

Construction efforts include building a one-story, steel framed communications structure with work spaces that will be equipped with raised floors, moveable interior walls, under-floor fire suppression system, storage spaces, conference rooms, showers, restrooms, access control system, climate control system, and emergency electrical power.

In addition to the communications center, new supporting facilities such as a 135-stall parking lot, site improvements, sidewalks, landscaping, pavement, electrical and communication ducts, fencing and security lighting are to be completed.

The final piece of the project is to construct a new single-story, power switching station, which will be built adjacent to the electrical substation located on base.

The new, secured communications facility will provide space for approximately 200 personnel and will be manned 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific, the project's program manager, awarded the $46.9 million contract to Watts Constructors, LLC, of Honolulu, March 5. NAVFAC Hawaii's Resident Officer in Charge of Construction Wahiawa is the Navy's Administrative Contracting Office for the project. The project's scheduled completion date is March 2010.