JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is building a new dining facility to enhance food service operations at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas.
Executed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the $33.9 million project supports the JBSA joint field training mission and power projection capabilities. The effort responds to growing demands to more efficiently feed warfighters training at Camp Bullis.
Located on San Antonio's far north side, Camp Bullis supports several training missions. The site, comprised of more than 27,000 acres, is used as a maneuvering range for Army, Air Force and Marine combat units, and field training for medical units stationed at Brooke Army Medical Center on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
“Service members executing the mission are our greatest asset and strength,” said Dr. Tim Sullivan, built infrastructure executive director and facility engineering directorate chief at AFCEC. “We continue to provide mission-ready infrastructure for Air and Space Forces, to include our training environments, which ensure Airmen, Guardians and other services are ready for great power competition.”
The dining facility project is part of the Department of the Air Force’s multi-billion dollar military construction program.
Support infrastructure is important to improving the quality of life for our nation’s warfighters and boosting their morale, which ultimately leads to increased retention, Sullivan said.
AFCEC began construction in December 2022 for the nearly 37,000 square-foot building. It will replace a wooden dining hall built in the 1930s that has far exceeded its intended lifespan.
“The inadequate dining infrastructure was outdated and undersized with a very limited capacity that provided only half the space necessary for feeding operations,” said Shannon Best, AFCEC’s project manager.
Through AFCEC’s collaboration with the Air Force Services Center, the AFIMSC units will provide a functional, world-class DFAC that’s better prepared for the needs of military members by serving meals quicker for those who dine in and those who eat in the field.
“Integration between our offices is fundamental to delivering a standard, compliant facility that meets the mission requirements on time and within budget,” Best said.
When complete, the facility will be capable of feeding up to 1,800 customers in a day during 90-minute meal periods. Two food-serving stations will expedite service.
“Fueling the force with a variety of nutritious food options is instrumental to improving and sustaining their readiness and resiliency,” said Jim Krueger, AFSVC food and beverage chief. “Great effort goes into ensuring Airmen and Guardians have access to quality and appealing food options, which includes in a training environment where their strength and stamina are often tested. At AFSVC, we’re committed to delivering what they need where they need it.”
When it comes to dining facilities, AFSVC’s experts are involved in everything from conceptual design through rolling out food initiatives and the grand openings of new facilities.
While AFCEC brings building requirements and code compliance to the table, AFSVC brings the programming requirements, helping installations provide required nourishment for all food service customers.
The project, in partnership with the Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and JBSA’s 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron, is expected to be complete in August 2025.