Keesler AFB reactivates 81st CES

U.S. Air Force Col. Heather Blackwell, 81st Training Wing commander, Col. Marcia Quigley, 81st Mission Support Group commander, and Robert Moseley, 81st Civil Engineering Squadron director, unveil the 81st CES logo during the 81st CES reactivation ceremony inside the Keesler Fire Department at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Feb. 18, 2020. The 81st CES reactivation links contractors and military members from base operations support and the 81st Infrastructure Division with a proper chain of command. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Mueller)

Keesler begins Hurricane Zeta recovery

Adam Sullivan, Vectrus heavy equipment operator, operates an excavator at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Oct. 29, 2020. Members of the 81st Civil Engineering Squadron and Vectrus worked before, during and after Hurricane Zeta to ensure the base infrastructure was able to sustain the wind and rain during the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seth Haddix)

Keesler begins Hurricane Zeta recovery

Franchot Canaan and Adan Cardoza, Vectrus ground landscaping maintainers, prepare equipment to clean up debris at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Oct. 29, 2020. Members of the 81st Civil Engineering Squadron and Vectrus worked before, during and after Hurricane Zeta to ensure the base infrastructure was able to sustain the wind and rain during the storm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seth Haddix)

Keesler responds to suspicious package

Emergency response team members walk through a decontamination line outside the Keesler Medical Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Feb. 11, 2021. Members of the Keesler Fire Department, 81st Security Forces Squadron, 81st Medical Group and Emergency Management responded to a suspicious package found inside the Keesler Medical Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Keesler responds to suspicious package

Members of the Keesler Fire Department respond to a suspicious package found at the Keesler Medical Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Feb. 11, 2021. Members of the Keesler Fire Department, 81st Security Forces Squadron, 81st Medical Group and Emergency Management responded to the incident. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Keesler responds to suspicious package

Chief James Donnett, 81st Civil Engineering Squadron fire chief, discusses the action plan with emergency response team members outside the Keesler Medical Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Feb. 11, 2021. Members of the Keesler Fire Department, 81st Security Forces Squadron, 81st Medical Group and Emergency Management responded to a suspicious package found inside the Keesler Medical Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

81st CES celebrates their one-year anniversary

Published Feb. 18, 2021
By 1st Lt. Gerald Peden
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --

The 81st Civil Engineer Squadron celebrated its one-year anniversary Feb. 18, after providing on-demand support in response to COVID-19 and multiple hurricanes.

“A top priority during COVID-19 was standing up the Emergency Operations Center for the first six months after its activation,” said Alfred Watkins, 81st CES chief of operations. “We also backed the 81st Medical Group with infrastructure support, setting up the COVID-19 testing area, handwashing stations and the satellite pharmacy.”

In addition to the challenges of the pandemic, the 81st CES also provides support in response to environmental impacts, whether it’s high humidity affecting heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems around base or preparation for hurricanes by staging sandbags, hardening priority facilities and ensuring base shelters are fully operational and ready for occupancy prior to storms.

Robert Moseley, 81st CES director, said that significant effort and dedication is a part of supporting the facilities on base. He also said the squadron will continue to progress to further support the installation

“When you look at our facilities we have almost seven million square feet of facility that we are maintaining, so it takes some effort to do that,” Moseley said. “We’ll continue to grow our organization and try to improve as we move forward.”

The 81st CES aims to continue providing support for the Airmen and families while reinforcing the mission to train, develop and inspire premier warfighters for the Air Force.

“The civil engineer squadron stands ready for all challenges to meet the needs of the men and women of the 81st training wing,” Watkins said.