A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Troy Tower at the N. Kenneth Campbell Field at Troy Municipal Airport was held Friday with members of Charlie Company 1-11th AVN (aviation) regiment Troy Detachment, Troy City and Pike County Chamber of Commerce officials in attendance.

LTC Robert Keeter expressed appreciation to the City of Troy for the renovations that make Troy Tower a safer and more pleasant facility in which to work.

Keeter presented certificates of appreciation to Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves and Troy Planning and Zoning Administrator Melissa Sanders for their leadership and commitment to the project.

The awards recognized Reeves and Sanders for ensuring that all the necessary maintenance was accomplished quickly and to standard during the numerous improvements to the Troy Municipal Airport.

Keeter said the improvements will greatly enhance working conditions as well as soldier morale.

Certificates of appreciation were also awarded to Junior Register, Trent Crawford, Chad Taylor and Jondy Spivey of the City of Troy Maintenance Department for their dedication and valuable contributions to the renovation project.

Reeves expressed appreciation to all who worked so diligently on the renovation of Troy Tower.

The mayor said that he worked in the tower when he was 16 years old and not much in the way of renovations had been done in the past 25 years.

“It was very obvious that something needed to be done,” he said. “It is important the we keep people safe every day. Melissa and Sgt. 1st Class (Nicole) Olcott had a vision for Troy Tower and they carried it out.

“We want Troy to have the best airport in Alabama and all of you made this renovation happen. The city stands ready to help in any way.”

Reeves expressed pride in the Troy Airport and said that it is incredible for a town of Troy’s size to have air traffic control at its municipal airport.

Sanders said the city values the Army’s presence and dedication to the safety of Troy Airport.

“We are so honored to be able to be partners with the Army and look forward to many wonderful years to come,” she said. “This battalion’s motto is ‘Exempla Proponere,’ which means ‘To Set Forth Examples’ and this shines through each soldier I met within this battalion. We are so thankful they are in Troy, at our airport, and also helping us in our community.”

During the reception that followed the ceremony, Keeter awarded the Army Achievement Medal to Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Olcott-Dorries, the overall detachment chief, for all of her hard work and dedication.

The 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment provides air traffic support to the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence flight training mission and National Airspace System while certifying assigned air traffic control soldiers to Army Control Tower Operator standards in order to support and sustain the Army Aviation community.