JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
U.S. Service members from across Joint Base Langley-Eustis gathered for the grand opening of the JBLE Professional Development Center at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Jan. 4, 2016.
The newly renovated facility will now bring the various aspects of the base professional development program under one roof to provide a one-stop-shop for JBLE Service members' career and development needs.
The center houses the Airmen Leadership School, First Term Airmen Center, career assistance advisors, Air National Guard in-service recruiter, chaplain services and various leadership development classes.
The shared space will enable Langley's professional development team to better serve Airmen across JBLE, said Master Sgt. Bryan Beers, Langley ALS commandant.
"By bringing the professional development program under one roof, we can provide Airmen with a centralized setting to learn and grow as Airmen and leaders," he said. "The center will also help [the program staffs] to communicate efficiently to provide Langley with the best program possible."
This efficient line of communication will enable the PDC the ability to offer more leadership development courses than before, said Senior Master Sgt. Terrence Smiley, Langley career assistance advisor.
"Before, it could be a challenge to find a space to hold our leadership development courses, like bullet writing or John Maxwell 360 degree leader course," he said. "The shared space allows me to work directly with my counterparts to schedule times we can utilize extra space to reach more Airmen."
The center will also offer Airmen a place to relax and recharge in the United Service Organization multipurpose room which will offer games and snacks and act as another venue for various base entities to host events.
"Our curriculums can be stressful," said Beers. "The USO multipurpose room will provide an excellent place for our Airmen to unwind and get away from work for a little while."
Beers said the center's grand opening was made possible due to units and leaders from across JBLE coming together.
This support is shown throughout the building which features rooms and hallways decorated by various units across Langley, including the 633rd Air Base Wing, 1st and 192nd Fighter Wings, 480th and 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wings, Headquarters Air Combat Command and various private professional development organizations including the Langley Chiefs' Group, First Sergeants' Council and Air Force Association Chapter 358.
"We're developing leaders to continue the force and take our place," he said. "We couldn't do that without the incredible support we've received from the base."
For more information, contact Smiley at (757) 764-3411 or
terrance.smiley@us.af.mil.