JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Meet Christopher Dzurik, basing and beddown engineer for Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center’s Detachment 10 at Air Force Global Strike Command. Dzurik’s contribution to our warfighting mission is worthy of this installation of our Mission Spotlight series.
Q: What is basing and beddown?
A: Basing and beddown occurs when the Air Force is bringing on a new weapon system. We work with the owning command -- in our case, Global Strike Command and help them with some basing activities to decide where this weapon system should go. We primarily focus on infrastructure, so we help bring the infrastructure to the bases that are needed to support that weapon system.
Basing and beddown can be anything from the infrastructure to support of the actual weapon system, like maintenance buildings, training buildings, command and control type facilities, to if a weapon system is generating more personnel at installation, dorm space, increased dining facility space, increases to the fitness center, things like that. We work with the MAJCOM and the bases to establish what all infrastructure needs to be constructed, and then we work to get the funding into the MILCON process.
I primarily work with the Sentinel (LGM-35A), which is the new ICBM that will replace the Minuteman III (LGM-30G). I work with F.E. Warren, Malmstrom, Minot Air Force Bases, and to a degree, Vandenberg Air Force Base. We're looking at building out all the infrastructure that's needed for the new Sentinel ICBM.
Q: Could you tell us a little bit about your career and how you got to where you're at now?
A: I started in the private sector for about 10 years. I got a call to be a contractor supporting the beddown of Global Strike Command at Barksdale. I worked as a contractor for about five years. After that, I got a job at a local veteran’s affairs in Shreveport for about a year and a half until a position at the 2nd Civil Engineering Squadron at Barksdale opened. I worked there for four or five years. I was hired into Detachment 10 to support new weapon systems like the B-21, Sentinel, and the MH-139 helicopter about 5 and a half years ago.
Q: What is your motivation to show up and do a good job on a daily basis?
A: In this position, we travel a lot to all the bases we support. Seeing the thousands of people that are involved in the mission on a daily basis is a big motivation. Also, seeing that some of their facilities are old and in poor condition, they deserve better for the missions they're doing. Knowing there are thousands of people all over the country that will work on this weapon system for decades is motivation to do as good a job as you can.
Q: What do you think is the most unique thing about your job?
A: Probably just the broad reach that we come across. We touch so many career fields. For example, at Minot, we're building a new security forces facility and a new vehicle maintenance facility to support Sentinel. At Vandenberg, we're building a new education facility for the formal training unit that will instruct the missileers and all the maintainers. We come into contact with a broad swath of all Air Force personnel, not just our specific engineering field. I think that's unique and exciting.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work? What are your hobbies?
A: My hobbies include running and reading. I enjoy military history and mystery type books. Since I travel a lot, I get to do a lot of reading, and I try to run a little bit wherever I go. It’s been fun running at different places around the country.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add to help people understand the importance of what you and your team do for the Department of the Air Force?
A: All the detachments are a little different depending on which major command they support. We are heavily focused on engineering activities supporting Global Strike because they have so many new weapon systems. But the detachments are all-encompassing and include other career fields like physical security and financial management. Moving money and getting it to the bases is a big part of what the detachments do. We are here to support the men and women in the armed forces.