Ceremony marks first step for SDDC relocation to Scott Air Force Base

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILL. (USTCNS) --- The U.S. Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) took its first official step in relocating from Virginia to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the SDDC Advance Team's facility Sept. 12.

Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), hosted the ceremony and declared the SDDC Advance Team facility officially open.

"Today is truly a historic event for SDDC," said Brig. Gen. James L. Hodge, acting commander of SDDC. "As of today, Saint Louis and Scott Air Force Base are no longer just places for SDDC members to go to for business trips or connecting flights. Today, we can say we are starting the process of moving into our new neighborhood."

A section of Building 1930 will be home to SDDC's Advance Team members as they work to prepare for the arrival of the remaining SDDC members. The team will be led by Brig. Gen. Maynard "Sandy" Sanders, deputy commander for Mobilization for SDDC.

SDDC's move will occur in two phases. Phase I consists of incrementally moving its headquarters from Alexandria, Va., and its Transportation Engineering Agency from Newport News, Va., along with some functional areas of headquarters SDDC at Ft. Eustis, Va., during the next 12 months. Phase II will entail moving the remainder of the Ft. Eustis element by October 2010.

Hodge thanked community and business leaders from communities surrounding Scott AFB for taking time to visit recently with SDDC members in Virginia.

"These folks formed an awesome team representing their respective communities," he said. "They made us feel welcome and provided a wealth of material and information for our employees to make good decisions regarding the move."

SDDC's move is a result of the most recent Base Realignment and Closure Commission's recommendations which became law November 2005.

To accommodate this move, ground will be broken in 2008 on a new permanent facility for SDDC. This new building, currently still in the design phase and due to be completed by 2010, will be approximately 180,000 square feet and will be located behind the current USTRANSCOM building.

Also by 2010, SDDC expects approximately 1,100 military, federal civilian and contractor positions to relocate to the base.

SDDC is one of three component commands of USTRANSCOM. The other two are the Air Force's Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, and the Navy's Military Sealift Command, Wash. D.C.