MASIELLO TAKES OVER AS NEW 'MAYOR' OF EDWARDS AFB.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - Edwards has a new ``mayor,'' as Col. Wendy Masiello assumed command of the 95th Air Base Wing from Col. Cheryl Zadlo.

As commander of the air base wing, Masiello is responsible for the operations of the 301,000-acre base, including its housing, personnel, construction and communications. Because the duties of the air base wing are quite similar to that of a top city administrator, the officer holding the post is sometimes referred to as the ``mayor'' of Edwards.

``I'm thrilled and humbled about taking over command of this wing,'' Masiello told the base newspaper, The Desert Wings.

Masiello has served as the air base wing's vice commander since July. Before that, Masiello was director of contracting for the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Masiello joined the Air Force after being a distinguished graduate from Texas Tech University's ROTC program in 1981, where she has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's in logistics management from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

In her Air Force career, Masiello has held a wide variety of positions in acquisition and contracting including space and air armament systems development and acquisition, and contract administration. She has served as the director of contracting, Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base, the deputy director of Plans and Programs, Air Armament Center at Eglin and the 95th Air Base Wing vice commander at Edwards.

Masiello's awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In her position as air base wing commander, Masiello will be responsible for overseeing a number of projects aimed at improving the quality of life on the base.

Edwards is in the midst of a multiyear project to replace or renovate hundreds of homes built in the 1950s. The old homes are becoming increasingly costly to maintain and lack central heating and cooling systems. Another project is the construction of an $18 million, 44,000-square-foot clinic that is replacing a 46-year-old hospital that was converted into a clinic. That project should be completed in 2003.

Another project aimed at making life easier on base is the construction of the $8.7 million, 49,000-square-foot Consolidated Support Facility.

The building, expected to be completed in 2004, will bring together under one roof several functions that are now scattered around the base, including both the military and civilian personnel offices, the office that handles identification and vehicle passes, and the air base wing command. The Consolidated Support Facility will allow military personnel to complete their incoming and outgoing processing in a one-stop facility.

The new building is expected to save more than $500,000 a year in maintenance, utility and other costs.

Zadlo, the air base wing commander since July 2001, is leaving Edwards to take command of personnel for U.S. Central Command, the command overseeing the Afghanistan campaign.

Under Zadlo's leadership, the air base wing made a number of improvements to the quality of life, including improved eating establishments, the family fitness center, the First Term Airmen Center, veterinary clinic, children's library, upgraded chapel facilities and innovative outdoor recreation activities.