Military officials and a number of local dignitaries dedicated the new Lt. Cmdr. Otis Vincent Tolbert Joint Intelligence Operations Center at MacDill Air Force Base today.
"The Vince," as it's referred to, is a 270,000-square-foot facility that will host U.S. Central Command intelligence operations. The facility cost the federal government $137.3 million to build.
"It allows us to pull together people who were spread out all over MacDill Air Force Base." Centcom commander Gen. David Petraeus said. "In the past, [there were] six different locations and even some smaller ones. It brings all of them together. The collaboration that allows, the synchronization, [is] hugely important to the business of intelligence."
U.S. Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young, R-Indian Shores, who was also on hand for the dedication, said the "importance of good, accurate intelligence cannot be overstated."
"What will happen in this building is preparing Americans dedicated to that premise, preparing them to do that mission," Young said.
Construction on the $137.3 million facility began in June 2006 and finished in February. The center will house more than 1,300 workers - military and civilian - after the move is completed at the end of the month.
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