USACE and U.S. Air Force break ground on ‘Gateway to Sentinel’ at Malmstrom, strengthening national defense

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leaders broke ground May 28, 2026, on a $26 million Commercial Entrance Control Facility intended to serve as the gateway for modernization work tied to replacing the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system with Sentinel ICBMs. The commercial gate is designed to give contractors and heavy equipment direct access to Sentinel-related construction sites and support nearly $1 billion in future projects tied to the upgrade, described as critical for national defense and deterrence.

“We’re establishing, in a visible way, to the nation and to the community that we’re still committed to this mission,” said Air Force Lt. Col. John Mayer, Sentinel Task Force Detachment 11 commander. “This gate is going to be manned by (Air Force Security Forces) Defenders who are not yet born, and through this gate will be missileers and operators headed out to the missile field through the second half of the 21st century.”

The facility will sit on a separate, dedicated campus so Sentinel-related traffic does not interfere with daily base operations for service members, families and civilians. Project leaders said the setup is meant to ease congestion and enhance security by routing inspections and high-volume construction traffic away from the main entry, maintaining both safety and mission readiness. “Without this project, the base would face significant security vulnerability, traffic congestion and slower inspections,” said Hadi Mir Sadeghi, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District project manager. “This project is critical because it strengthens Malmstrom’s ability to detect, deter and prevent threats before they ever reach the installation.” He added, “Simply put, it’s going to be an express gate for the Sentinel contractors.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers highlighted a multi-district approach: the Omaha District led the design using Sentinel facility standards, while the Seattle District is overseeing contract solicitation and award, construction management and quality assurance. Violet Albright, the Seattle District’s chief of construction, called the effort a model of interagency teamwork. “A project of this magnitude and importance is never the work of a single entity. It is born from a powerful partnership, and that is what we are truly celebrating today,” Albright said. “This facility embodies the spirit of a ‘team of teams,’ uniting civilian expertise with military precision. The Corps of Engineers brings our legacy of engineering excellence, but it is the seamless integration with the Air Force’s operational requirements that turns a design into a strategic asset.”

Planning and funding required extensive coordination across agencies. The project team navigated “Above Threshold Reprogramming” after contractor cost estimates exceeded expectations, prompting a request for additional funding and notification to Congress. “It required a lot of time, but our team provided all the information our Air Force partners needed to secure those additional funds,” Mir Sadeghi said. “We awarded it [the construction contract] just before our schedule drastically slipped.”

Mir Sadeghi said the work underscores the Seattle District’s broader role in defense-related construction and stewardship. “People involved in this project often refer to it as the gateway to Sentinel,” he said. “It’s the first step toward getting this high-visibility program successfully executed and allowing the installation to support the overall program.” He added, “It’s important for the public to know that USACE’s role isn’t just construction; it’s stewardship. We make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, the infrastructure meets federal standards and the facilities we deliver enhance the mission and readiness for decades to come.”

Equipment mobilization to the site is expected early this summer, with initial activity focused on fencing, utility work and foundations for inspection areas. Tentative completion is slated for mid-2028. Project officials said the new commercial gate is intended to keep Sentinel construction on schedule while maintaining base security and minimizing impacts on daily traffic.

“I’m proud of the teamwork,” Mir Sadeghi said. “This has been a collaborative effort involving our district, the Omaha District, Air Force Global Strike Command, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, the 341st Missile Wing and so many others. Seeing these organizations work together toward a shared mission is something that I’m honored to be part of.”