Presentation:

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is undergoing its largest airfield improvement project in over 60 years. As a master air and industrial base, Naval Air Station Jacksonville supports U.S. and allied forces specializing in anti-submarine warfare and training. A recent change to the primary mission aircraft has made it necessary to execute a project that increases the structural capacity of the airfield pavement and bring the lighting and signage systems to current standards. The project includes construction of a new 1000-foot concrete overrun with supporting taxiways, the reconstruction of the two concrete runway ends, and the mill and overlay all asphalt pavements on runway 10/28, associated taxiways and shoulders.    

Additionally, the project includes replacement of airfield lighting and new signage, demolition of existing lighting vaults, and the construction of a new and centralized lighting control building. The construction duration of one year has required that flight operations be suspended and relocated to Cecil Field. The presentation will discuss the methodology used to qualify the project, design challenges, and current construction challenges and successes.

Speaker Bio:

Jeffrey W. Frank, P.E., is currently the Civil Engineer Branch Head for Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast. He is responsible for the technical adequacy and quality of all civil engineering functions throughout the region’s 19 installations from Texas to South Carolina and through the Caribbean. Additionally, he is the program manager for airfield pavement design and construction projects for the region’s 29 airfields.

Prior to joining NAVFAC in 2009 he was employed in the private sector specializing in the planning and design of Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build land development projects for private and Federal clients. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida as well as a Master of Engineering with emphasis in geotechnical and civil materials engineering and is licensed as a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida. He is recognized as the Navy’s subject matter expert for asphalt pavement and serves on multiple DoD Tri-service and Navy boards for airfield/heavy pavement design and geotechnical matters.

Mr. Frank remains engaged in the development of in-house designs and is the Engineer-of Record for the civil engineering portion of the NAS Jacksonville Airfield Repairs project.