The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) plays a critical role in sustaining U.S. operations across the Indo-Pacific region. That mission is strengthened through Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) Detachment 2’s PACAF Facility Sustainment, Restoration & Modernization (FSRM) Execution Initiative, under which Pond is delivering resilient, high-performance design solutions that deliver both mission effectiveness and quality of life for Airmen. 

Operating in the Indo-Pacific is uniquely challenging. Every project must balance U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and UFC standards with Host Nation and local government codes, while also being fully constructible using local materials, labor practices, and construction methods. Pond’s ability to reconcile these diverse requirements leads to design packages that are not only compliant, but practically executable in the field — a critical factor for execution agents and installation partners working across Japan, Korea, Guam, and the broader Pacific. 

Across the PACAF FSRM Execution Initiative, Pond’s designs help installations modernize aging infrastructure, reinforce resilience against the region’s demanding climates, and enhance the everyday experience of Airmen and their families.  

Restoring Unaccompanied Housing in Guam 

At Andersen Air Force Base, Pond is leading major dormitory modernization efforts to deliver safe, efficient, and resilient unaccompanied housing for Airmen. These facility-wide renovations demand careful coordination between UFC criteria, Guam territorial codes, environmental constraints, and local construction realities. 

The Palau, Rota, and Saipan dormitory projects, each approximately 55,675 square feet, include comprehensive upgrades such as: 

• Full replacement of HVAC systems designed for Guam’s humid, corrosive C-5 marine environment 
• Modernized fire alarm and mass-notification systems 
• Complete electrical and plumbing system replacement 
• Structural and building envelope repairs 
• AT/FP-compliant window and door systems 
• Re-grading and drainage redesign to address persistent ponding and stormwater issues 
• Mold mitigation and moisture control strategies informed by Typhoon Mawar (2023) impacts 

A 40-year life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) informed system selections to deliver long-term maintainability and reduced environmental vulnerability. Material specifications emphasize locally available and corrosion-resistant components, minimizing logistics delays common to Guam’s remote supply chain. 

Each dormitory meets UFC 1-200-02 High Performance and Sustainable Building requirements through: 

• Low-flow plumbing fixtures 
• Energy-efficient lighting 
• Improved air-sealing and insulation 
• Long-life, maintainable finishes 

These improvements reinforce readiness by providing Airmen access to safe, comfortable, dependable unaccompanied housing, an essential factor in morale, retention, and mission performance. 

Building Community Resilience in Korea 

At Gwangju Air Base in the Republic of Korea, Pond is helping PACAF rebuild and modernize essential community and mission facilities. 

One key effort is the 5,930-square-foot multi-purpose community facility designed to replace a structure destroyed by fire. To successfully balance utilize Korean labor and materials while still meeting U.S. Air Force requirements, Pond integrated: 

• U.S. UFC standards for life safety, fire protection, and antiterrorism 
• Korean Building Code for structural design and seismic performance 
• Local construction practices, including preferred reinforced concrete systems and regionally available materials 

The resulting design provides flexible community space — including recreation areas, kitchen facilities, restrooms, storage, and a covered outdoor patio — while also supporting contingency operations through redundant power and communications. 

Nearby, Pond developed the concept design for a 4,000-square-foot ICD-705-compliant secure operations facility for Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 262. The building includes: 

• Hardened evidence vaults 
• Secure interview rooms 
• Controlled communications routing 
• Cyber- and physical-security features tailored to Host Nation constructability 

These facilities strengthen both mission support and community cohesion while balancing designs that are executable under Korean procurement and construction methods. 

Engineering for Endurance in Japan 

At Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Pond is addressing complex environmental and structural challenges that impact facility performance across the installation. Extreme humidity, airborne chlorides, heavy rainfall, and marine C-5 corrosion create accelerated wear on building systems and infrastructure. 

Pond’s design approach at Kadena integrates: 

• UFC-compliant repair and modernization requirements 
• Japanese Building Code (JBC) for seismic design, structural loads, and life-safety systems 
• Local construction techniques, including Japanese concrete standards and regionally available mechanical/electrical components 
• Material selections proven to withstand Okinawa’s corrosive coastal environment 
• Drainage and stormwater improvements based on local rainfall intensity data 
• Phasing strategies that allow mission-critical operations to continue uninterrupted 

Across administrative, operational, and industrial facilities, these upgrades are not only technically sound but buildable by Japanese contractors using standard local methods, minimizing long-lead imports and accelerating execution. 

These efforts extend facility service life, improve energy performance, and enhance mission resilience across PACAF’s largest overseas installation. 

Conclusion: Local Expertise, Global Readiness

Under the PACAF FSRM Execution Initiative, delivering infrastructure is as much about navigating regulation, climate, and constructability as it is about design. Pond balances DoD UFC standards with Host Nation codes and local construction practices to deliver solutions that are compliant, durable, regionally adapted, and truly buildable. 

Pond remains committed to strengthening U.S. airpower across the Pacific by delivering infrastructure that stands resilient against environmental extremes and adaptable to the evolving needs of the Airmen who serve. Learn more about Pond’s mission-critical federal work in the Pacific.