Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington unveiled

  • Published
  • By Capt. Robert Sperling
  • 316th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Andrews Air Force Base embarked on the next phase of its long and storied history Oct. 1, as Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington was commemorated during a ceremony in Hangar 1.

The event involved the unveiling of the Joint Team Andrews logo and took place against a backdrop of military hardware representing all aspects of the newly minted Joint Team Andrews.

"Vince Lombardi described teamwork as individual dedication to a group effort," said Navy Capt. Timothy Fox, Naval Air Facility Washington commanding officer. "That is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work, and that is what makes a joint base work."

"Andrews is no stranger to change," said Maj. Gen. Ralph Jodice, Air Force District of Washington commander. "The names have changed, but the commitment to service has remained the same. We are the gateway to the nation's capital, and we are 'all in' here at Team Andrews."

Andrews has evolved since its early beginnings as a Civil War encampment to its establishment in August 1942 as the Camp Springs Army Air Field. In 1945, the base was renamed in honor of Army aviation pioneer Lt. Gen. Frank Maxwell Andrews. Following the establishment of the United States Air Force, Andrews evolved from being an Army air field to being an air force base. Andrews Air Force Base has been and continues to be a cornerstone military establishment in the National Capital Region.

"The Navy and the Air Force have been cooperating for a long time," said Navy Capt. Catherine Hanft, South Potomac Naval Support Activity command officer. "During the first retaliatory strike against Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a group of Army Air Corps aviators took off in their B-25 bombers from the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet. Since then we have continued to work cooperatively."

"We are better today now that we are a joint team," said Col. Steven Shepro, 316th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander. "This is how we are excelling in combat - we are an integrated force and that is how we are excelling here as Team Andrews."

Joint Base Andrews is the first installation, along with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., in the continental United States to take part in the Base Realignment and Closure proceedings.