Base and station leaders gathered to observe the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 Hangar aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River Friday.

The hangar was designed to allow the air station to better support training and operational squadrons.

“With a plan in place to relocate multiple squadrons from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, the New River staff quickly recognized a greater need for additional hangar and work spaces, and immediately got to work figuring out the best way to make that happen,” said Col. Timothy Salmon, commanding officer of New River.

The new hangar is 67,065 square feet in total, with approximately 12,300 square feet in maintenance shop space and 12,000 square feet of office space.

“These facilities will allow New River to better support our training and operational squadrons for many years to come, while HMHT-302 continues to train our country’s finest CH-53 E Super Stallion Sea Stallion pilots and crews,” said Salmon.

The total project cost more than $67.5 million to build.

“As leaders, we identify what our Marines need and do our best to supply it,” said Sgt. Maj. William Oldenburg, air station sergeant major. “This new facility will give the Marines everything they need to support the air station.”