Building the FOB of the Future

The Forward Operating Base of the Future project at the Basic Expeditionary Airmen Skills Training facility at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, is “open for business,” Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James announced this month. The FOB of the Future project uses alternative energy sources, energy storage technologies, and secure smart grid technology to demonstrate how the Air Force may reduce its reliance on diesel fuel at forward operating bases, according to a press release. The first phase, which will evaluate the feasibility of deploying the FOB of the Future system, is scheduled to be complete in March 2017. “Through renewable and advanced energy technologies, we can ensure our bases have the power to execute their missions, even when traditional energy resources are disrupted,” James said. “The same technologies, self-sustaining approach, and energy-aware culture we’re demonstrating here at BEAST are just as important across all our bases.” James said in February that USAF is standing up an office of energy assurance, and is launching a resilient energy demonstration initiative, as part of an effort to focus more on energy assurance.