On May 7th, we were proud to be present at a meaningful milestone, the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially delivering the new Honor Guard Training Facility to Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona.
Luke Air Force Base is home to the world’s largest F-35 fighter pilot training program and the 56th Fighter Wing Airmen Honor Guard, a ceremonial unit that performs at over 1,000 official functions annually. The Honor Guard carries out their mission with precision and distinction, and they deserve facilities that match that standard.
Our team members Darrell Wilson, Regional Manager (Civil/Site), and Haley Conway, Project Manager, attended on behalf of Colliers Engineering & Design to mark the culmination of a project that has been close to our hearts from day one. For Darrell, the day carried special meaning, a reflection of more than two decades of deep personal investment in Luke Air Force Base and its people. Inducted into the Honorary Commander program of the U.S. Air Force through the 56th Fighter Wing in 2004, his background as a commercial and airline transport pilot forged an immediate bond with the base and a lasting respect for its mission. That connection grew into a leadership role: in 2019, when he was appointed Chairman of the Fighter Country Foundation’s board of directors— and remains an active governing board member today — helping shape and fund some of the base’s most impactful capital projects, including the Honor Guard Training Facility. Alongside him, Haley Conway served as Project Manager throughout the project, leading day-to-day design coordination and working closely with trade partners to bring the vision from concept to construction.
This 7,000 sq ft ground-up facility was built to elevate their training and operations, and may serve as a model for Honor Guard programs at bases across the country.
None of this would have been possible without Jeff Gordon, CEO of IDM Companies — one of Arizona’s largest multifamily and industrial developers. Gordon became passionate about the cause, contributing significant seed capital and putting his company’s full resources behind the project as construction manager, working hand-in-hand with their trade partners to see it through.
Colliers Engineering & Design provided civil engineering, land survey, and project coordination services throughout the life of this project. Our scope included paving and grading design, utility coordination, and construction staking.
The ceremony itself was a testament to the project’s significance — four generals attended, three of whom had completed tours of duty at Luke Air Force Base throughout their careers. From first design to that final ceremony, this project reflects what is possible when community leaders and industry partners align around a shared mission. We are proud to have worked alongside Fighter Country Foundation, IDM Companies, and Deutsch Architecture Group in bringing this vision to life.
To learn more about this project, and our involvement view the article below.