# Virginia National Guard breaks ground for new headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond

/ Published Aug. 19, 2016
RICHMOND, Va., 
Under a blazing sun and the high heat of a typical late summer day in Virginia, military and government leaders broke ground for the Virginia National Guard headquarters building at the Defense Supply Center Richmond August 17. 

This day, a historical one in the guard’s 409-year history, has been years in the making, said Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. 

“Today’s events were over a decade in the making and spanned four adjutants general and their collective staffs,” Williams said. “Since June 2014, the Virginia guardsmen facility management office in partnership with the National Guard and especially the collective DSCR staff here have worked tirelessly to bring us to this point today. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for those quiet professionals.”

Virginia’s Secretary of public safety and homeland security, Brian Moran, introduced the Virginia Governor and National Guard Commander in chief Terry McAuliffe praising his work to bring economic growth to the commonwealth, including the project at DSCR. 

Moran said while not the governor’s first groundbreaking ceremony, this one may be the most special. 

“He takes his job as commander in chief of Virginia very seriously,” he said. “He attends all the deployments, of which, there have been many because Virginia has one of the most special guard units.”

Keeping his remarks brief, the governor thanked everyone who worked to make the project a reality. 

“It’s such an honor to be here,” McAuliffe said. “What we’ll see here is a 102,000-square-foot building. Our guard is 409 years old and this is long overdue. I want to thank everyone here today.” 

 “We have the best guard in the country,” he said. “More than 2,100 deployed around the world today – the second most of any state in America.” 

Defense Logistics Agency commander, Air Force Brig. Gen. Allan Day also thanked the teams who worked together to bring the project to DSCR. 

“I know it’s hot and humid but it’s a great day to be here in Virginia at DSCR,” Day said. 

Speaking directly to Williams, Day said, “This is going to be great to have you on our base. It’s a great partnership and it’s growing.”

With a new Defense Logistics Agency operations center taking shape on the horizon at DSCR, Day spoke about the exciting times ahead for the guard. 

“It was almost a year ago that I got to break ground on our new operations center down the way just a little bit.  It’s an exciting time and now it’s exciting for y’all.” 

“DLA is a joint command and as the installation commander, I know I speak for our workforce when I say that we are looking forward to adding the adjutant general of Virginia, the Virginia National Guard joint staff and the Air National Guard staff to the other joint DoD activities that are located here,” Day said. “We look forward to the opportunities having you brings to us and to Chesterfield County. We welcome you like we welcome all our family members to our DSCR family.”

With hard hats on and shovels ready, the representatives from all the agencies working together, including McAuliffe, Williams and Day, turned the dirt to symbolize the start of the project. 

The facility, set to be completed by February 2018, will be eco-friendly with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification of Silver.