Laughlin's new AMOC officially opens Published Oct. 20, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Blake Mize 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, Representative for Texas' 23rd District, helped recognize the opening of a brand new aircraft maintenance operations complex here Oct. 15 by speaking at the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The AMOC, which has an estimated value of $7.6 million, has been under construction since May of 2007. It will replace four buildings that took up approximately 19,000 square feet. In his speech, Congressman Rodriguez praised Del Rio and Laughlin AFB for their forethought toward the future. "It is a community that has looked toward the future and at what needs to occur in order to make things happen and move forward," he said. "That is one of the basic characteristics of any successful organization." Col. Michael Frankel, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, also spoke during the event and took part in the ribbon-cutting. "This day is long overdue," Col. Frankel said in his speech. "Our maintainers are now going to be in the type of state-of-the-art facility they should have been in long ago." Amy Graveley, Laughlin AFB deputy director of maintenance, said the new complex will enhance command and control operations through consolidation of various maintenance functions supporting T-1 Jayhawk, T-6 Texan and T-38 Talon aircraft into a single efficient space. The facility's design won the Air Force top concept design award in 2008. Ben Graf, 47th Civil Engineering Squadron project manager, said the award can be partly attributed to the two-story bay windows incorporated in the design that provide a panoramic view of Laughlin's flight line. "Our maintainers are the heart and soul of our mission and this building is going to be the heart and soul of our flight line," Col. Frankel said.