Defense Information School Breaks Ground on Expansion

By Brandon BieltzFebruary 5, 2013

Defense Information School Ready to Expand
A $30 million expansion, scheduled to be completed in January 2015, will provide an additional 100,000-square-feet to the Defense Information School. The three-phase project includes a new parking lot, renovations to the current building and addition... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

On Jan. 23, 1946, the Army activated the first military information school to provide training for what would eventually become the public affairs career field.

Exactly 67 years after the school opened at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., the Defense Information School broke ground for a new expansion project that will add an additional 100,000-square-feet to the facility on Fort Meade.

"For more than 65 years, the Defense Information School and predecessor organizations have trained more than 150,000 students for our great military," said Col. Jeremy M. Martin, commandant of DINFOS. "Today, we break ground for the DINFOS expansion and renovation project, adding one more chapter to this tremendous legacy of training success."

DINFOS, located at Fort Meade since 1995, trains service members and civilians in public affairs, broadcasting and visual information.

The event's guest speaker, Bryan G. Whitman, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for public affairs and acting director of the Defense Media Activity, called DINFOS a "premiere institution."

"The training I have received here has served me well as it has all those that went before me and all those that have gone after me," Whitman said.

The ceremony marked the beginning of the three-phase project that is scheduled to be completed in January 2015. The first phase consists of constructing a new parking lot on the south side of the school. The second phase includes renovation of the current DINFOS space.

Phase three is the construction of a three-story addition that will add nearly 80,000-square-feet of classrooms and administrative spaces. The $30 million expansion will allow the school to accommodate an increase in students from 2,700 to approximately 3,500.

To prepare for the influx, DINFOS also has hired more than 80 instructors and administrative personnel over the past three years.

"We know that it is much needed," Whitman said. "It will increase our capacity and allow us to provide the training for all the military and civilian personnel for the military services that are needed to be able to carry out this very vital public affairs and visual information mission all around the world where our troops serve."

Before breaking ground, Whitman praised the efforts of officials to get the project moving and ready for construction by Amatea/Grimberg Joint Venture.

With shovel in hand, Whitman broke ground alongside Martin as well as Col. J. Richard Jordan III, commander of the Army Corps of Engineer Baltimore District; T.J. Singh, director of the Fort Meade Directorate of Public Works; Marina Amata, managing partner of Amatea/Grimberg Joint Venture; and Peter Grimberg, president of John C. Grimberg Company.

"Today, we celebrate new beginnings and the people and the partners that have made it possible," Whitman said. "Some may have doubted that this day would ever happen, and others made sure that this day would happen. To all of you and to all of those who have made this day happen, my sincere thanks and appreciation. Now let's dig some dirt."