MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Honorable Gordon R. England, Secretary of the Navy, visited the Station Feb. 25 for a brief tour of the facilities.
Upon arrival, England was escorted to the Station Operations Office, where he received an overview of the Station and current projects underway.
England expressed interest in the Iwakuni Runway Relocation Project, particularly the future commercialization of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Airport.
"So far this all looks terrific," said England. "It's a great idea."
The 12-year program to relocate the runway one thousand meters further east into the ocean will grow the base by approximately 30 percent, according to Cmdr. Dave Sasek, Station Facilities officer, who briefed England. Sasek also mentioned that the process involved extensive negotiations with local city and prefecture officials.
"If you're able to successfully work out the way to do it, at the end of the day, you will have a vastly superior base," said England.
England also toured Crash Fire Rescue and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 facilities. Lastly, he met with Marines from the Single Marine Program.
"He seemed pretty interested in what we do over here," said Anthony Martinez, Hornet's Nest manager. "I just showed him the ins and outs of the things we do. He shook a couple hands and talked to a couple folks about how they liked the program."
England was confirmed as the 73rd Secretary of the Navy on Sept. 26, 2003 and sworn in on Oct. 1. He is the second person in history to serve twice as the leader of the Navy and Marine Corps, and the first to serve in back-to-back terms. Prior to his return to the Navy Department, he was the first Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
England served as the 72nd Secretary of the Navy from May 2001, until he joined the Homeland Security in Jan. 2003. As Secretary of the Navy, Mr. England leads America's Navy and Marine Corps and is responsible for an annual budget in excess of $110 billion dollars and more than 800,000 personnel.