Navy officials' outrage over run-down barracks prompts housing facelift at Air Force base on Guam
- Admin
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
California company wins $36.8 million contract for housing repair
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Andersen Air Force Base has awarded a $36.8 million contract to the California-headquartered SeaPac Engineering Inc. for the renovation of a typhoon-damaged barracks in Guam's military installation.
According to the Department of Defense's announcement today, the contract provides for the design and full repair of the troops' housing facility, called “Palau Dorm.” The project is expected to be completed by Dec. 10, 2027.
The Palau Dorm repair is part of AAFB’s major rehabilitation of its housing facilities, following a Navy inspection prompted by a report from the watchdog Project on Government Oversight, revealing the troops’ run-down barracks.
The watchdog's report stated that Navy Secretary John Phelan was "appalled" by the conditions in the barracks.
Earlier this month, the Navy awarded Global Pacific Design Builders a $297 million contract to design and build brand-new family housing at AAFB.
“We are thrilled with the upcoming redesign and construction of new homes for residents on AAFB,” Col. Dan Cooley, 36 Wing commander, said in a July 15 press release.
Housing structures were among the infrastructure facilities on base that were heavily damaged by Typhoon Mawar, which pummeled Guam in May 2023.
Cooley said the housing project represented "another significant step forward in enhancing the infrastructure and resiliency of the base, following Super Typhoon Mawar."
The new houses, he added, will provide better living conditions for the airmen and their families, "allowing our service members to focus on carrying out the mission.”
The Project on Government Oversight's report, released
in May, revealed internal Navy communications showing
the extent of the barracks' dilapidation.
Email exchanges included photos showing exposed wires dangling from the ceiling, bubbling and cracked walls where mold was painted over and badly corroded plumbing at Palau Dorm.
“Conditions in other barracks at Andersen aren’t significantly different from those in Palau Hall, nor are they maintained at a higher level,” POGO reported, quoting an Air Force spokesperson.
In May, marines and sailors who formed the vanguard from Okinawa moved into their new home on Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz following the opening of the first new enlisted barracks.
They were among the troops previously housed at the Air Force barracks, which "appalled" Navy Secretary John Phelan.
The watchdog reported that Phelan was compelled to open the Camp Blaz barracks ahead of schedule due to the dire conditions at the Palau Dorm.
Vice Admiral Scott Gray, who leads the Navy’s installation command, described the Guam barracks conditions in attached photos as “clearly neglected” and “unacceptable,” according to the report.
Subscribe to
our digital
monthly edition
