New software support facility to help Robins welcome more workload, may boost jobs Published June 15, 2007 By Holly L. Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins AFB, Ga. -- Plans are in the works for a new software support facility that will increase Robins' ability to meet the software needs of various aircraft, while increasing workload capability and job opportunities. The base is currently awaiting approval from higher-level officials on funding for the proposed $21 million military construction project. Tracy Green, an electronics engineer in the 402nd Software Maintenance Group's business office, said the estimated 70,000-square-foot facility, a concept which was conceived in the late 1990s and became a military construction project in 2003, is expected to expand the borders of the software maintenance capability. "The (402nd) Software Maintenance Group at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center consists of 750 software professionals distributed across six different buildings here on base," he said. "We've outgrown the facilities we have to date. So, the intent of this software support facility is to provide us that additional room to grow our organic capabilities here on base." The base's software professionals would perform software maintenance and testing on the F-22 Raptor, the Global Hawk, the C-17 Globemaster III and other aircraft, Mr. Green said. The electronics engineer said Robins estimates a 39 percent cost savings to its customers, by allowing the base to provide a locally-based organic alternative for software maintenance. Gus Lane, an industrial engineer in the Infrastructure Planning Flight of the 802nd Maintenance Support Squadron in the 402nd Maintenance Support Group, said in addition, the project will bring software professionals under one roof. "The basic benefit for this facility, in addition to having more space, is that it will allow existing software development being done in Bldgs. 226, 227, and 230 to be consolidated, so you'll have one continuous software development facility," he said. "It will enable the people to better interact with each other and with the existing equipment we already have, in addition to providing additional support space for software development." Mr. Lane said the facility will provide an increased versatility for software developers and could bring an increase in job opportunities. Glenn Johnson, 802nd MXSS Infrastructure Planning Flight director, said Robins expects to get news on the project's funding in the next couple of months.