Officials from the Department of War, Department of the Navy and the state of North Carolina cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art repair complex at the North Carolina Global TransPark Sept. 17, significantly boosting Fleet Readiness Center East’s (FRCE) ability to deliver mission-ready aircraft to warfighters.

The new facility expands FRCE’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for three key defense platforms: Navy C/KC-130T Hercules, Marine Corps C/KC-130J Super Hercules and Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft. 

Spanning approximately 75 acres, the purpose-built facility covers more than 700,000 square feet and has direct taxiway access to the North Carolina Global TransPark’s 11,500-foot runway, one of the longest civilian runways in Eastern North Carolina, streamlines ground logistics, enabling aircraft to transition seamlessly from touchdown to active maintenance.

“This new hangar is more than just concrete and steel – it is a symbol of commitment that both FRC East and the state of North Carolina are making to our nation’s warfighters,” said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Randy J. Berti. “It gives us a powerful new capability to keep combat-ready aircraft in the air, while demonstrating North Carolina’s unmatched dedication to national defense.”

The partnership between the Navy and the state of North Carolina is the first of its kind within the Department of War and represents an innovative collaboration. In 2023, North Carolina state lawmakers allocated $350 million to prepare the Global TransPark site for FRCE’s new facility. Under a lease executed by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, the Navy will manage and operate the facility. This public-state alignment drastically reduced typical federal construction timelines while securing substantial cost savings for taxpayers and the Department of War.

“Readiness and lethality are what peace through strength actually looks like in practice, and sustainment is at the heart of both,” said Maj. Gen. David Walsh, Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive (Aviation) for Marine Corps Aviation. “This facility means our combatant commands get more mission-ready aircraft, faster – the C/KC-130 and the HH-60W fleets included – while cutting the cost burden on the American taxpayer. It’s a partnership between the Department of War and the state of North Carolina that puts readiness first, and I couldn’t be prouder of what delivers for our warfighters.”

Beyond strengthening frontline readiness, the facility serves as a major economic cornerstone for Eastern North Carolina. The operation is projected to add roughly 400 high-skilled positions to Kinston and Lenoir County, including sheet metal artisans, aircraft mechanics, avionics technicians, quality assurance specialists, and aerospace engineers. To fuel this growing talent pipeline, FRCE is leveraging strong educational partnerships with regional institutions, including Lenoir Community College and Craven Community College, whose specialized aviation maintenance programs will help train the next generation of depot artisans.

Berti emphasized that bringing a project of this scale from concept to reality required seamless coordination, noting that its success relied entirely on deep cross-command collaboration and unwavering backing from Navy leadership at all levels.

This effort will lead to enhanced sustainment and logistical support for critical military aircraft. Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Logistics Erica Plath, said the support comes at a critical time to meet the needs of the fleet.

“We are here to deliver on a single, uncompromising mandate: prioritize the American warfighter and generate decisive, operational lethality,” said Plath. “When our Marine Corps relies on the KC-130 to project rapid tactical power across global domains, or when Air Force aircrews push the HH-60W Jolly Green II into hostile territory for combat search and rescue, their survivability and success depend directly on our depot-level maintenance.

While FRCE engineers, logisticians, and artisans already support the C-130 platform, the mission now transitions into its permanent home in Kinston. Previously constrained to short 30-day inspection cycles and minor repair tasks under the C-130 Minor Depot Inspection Branch, FRCE’s footprint at the TransPark enables full-scale depot-level MRO operations. This expanded workload directly lengthens the service life and operational availability of the Navy and Marine Corps' primary tactical airlift and aerial refueling assets.

Simultaneously, the complex establishes FRCE as the designated depot repair point for the Air Force’s newest combat rescue platform, the HH-60W Jolly Green II. Artisans got an unexpected jumpstart on the workload ahead of this month's scheduled arrival date, successfully completing an unscheduled on-site repair on an aircraft. That early unscheduled event served as a high-value practical training exercise, validating shop procedures, tooling and technical data before full depot operations kick off.

FRCE Executive Director David Rose emphasized that the new maintenance complex stands as a powerful testament to the enduring partnerships that have strengthened FRCE’s mission and will continue to drive its success for generations to come.

“We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the counties, municipalities and communities across Eastern North Carolina,” Rose said. “This great state, along with the leadership at Global TransPark, has stood with FRCE every step of the way. What we see here today is more than a facility; it is the result of passionate people coming together with a shared sense of purpose, an unwavering commitment to our nation and a steadfast belief in the strength of our region.

“This facility will no doubt directly enhance the readiness of our warfighters and strengthen our ability to answer the call when our nation needs us most,” Rose added. “At the same time, it will create tremendous opportunities for the citizens of eastern North Carolina to be a part of something greater and contribute to something truly meaningful.

“Additionally, this achievement demonstrates what is possible when federal, state and local partners unite behind a common purpose,” he continued. “Together, we are investing in the future of this region, strengthening our nation’s defense and equipping the men and women who stand at the ready every day to defend the freedoms we hold dear.”

FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with nearly 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $860 million. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.