Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Auditing
Inspector General Heddell Concludes Pacific Area Tour with Visits in Okinawa and Guam
March 8, 2010 – DoD Inspector General Gordon S. Heddell and key members of his staff concluded their tour of the Pacific area with visits to Okinawa, Japan, and Guam. The visits are part of preparations related to the oversight of plans to facilitate the realignment of U.S. forces from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam by a targeted completion date of 2014.
On March 8, Mr. Heddell, and Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz met to discuss any issues or concerns they and the citizens of Guam may have in regards to the transfer of U.S. forces from Okinawa to Guam. Lt. Gov. Cruz is an Army Reserve colonel and a medical doctor, who has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.
While in Guam, Mr. Heddell also met with Brig. Gen. Philip M. Ruhlman, USAF; and Maj. Gen. Donald Goldhorn, Guam National Guard to discuss relocation of the Marine and base improvements needed to accommodate the transfer. Brig. Gen Ruhlman is the Commander, 36th Wing; the Installation Commander and Base Commanding Officer, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; and the Deputy Commander, Joint Region Marianas (JRM). Maj. Gen. Goldhorn is the Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard.
JRM was stood up on October 1, 2009, and is responsible for providing oversight of all military installations on Guam and the Marianas Islands. Under JRM, Naval Base Guam and Anderson Air Force Base will retain separate base commanders who will oversee operations and mission requirements for their respective installations.
There are currently over 1,300 members of the Guam Air and Army National Guard. The Guam Army National Guard is comprised of three major commands, while the Guam Air National Guard is comprised of four main units.
The primary mission of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler (MCBJ) is to provide installation support and services, including force protection and quality of life, to forward-deployed Marine and Naval forces, other service members, civilians, retirees, family members, and others associated MCBJ tenants.
MCBJ is responsible for USMC infrastructure and maintaining training capabilities and capacity of the U.S. Marine Corps forces throughout Japan and Okinawa. The command includes approximately 9,000 military and civilian personnel and includes two air stations, and nine camps and housing areas.
Kadena Air Base is the hub of airpower in the Pacific, and home to the Air Force's largest combat wing. The 18th Air Wing's mission is to defend U.S. and Japanese' mutual interests by providing a responsive staging and operational airbase with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower.
The Wing employs a tailored composite force of combat-ready fighter, air refueling, airborne warning and control and rescue aircraft to accomplish this mission. “Team Kadena” has nearly 18,000 Americans and more than 4,000 Japanese contractor employees to make up Team Kadena. The base's estimated economic impact upon Okinawa's economy is more than $700 million annually.
During the trip, Mr. Heddell was accompanied by members of his staff, including Deputy Inspector General for Auditing Mary L. Ugone, and Chief of Staff Mike Child.
For more information about the Guam Realignment, go to the link provided in the left column of the DoD IG web site or click here.
