Engineers run a series of tests on the new fuel cell during its commissioning at Godman Army Airfield Aug. 3, 2022. The new cell, along with its four storage tanks, has increased jet fuel capacity from 20,000 gallons to 60,000.

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Officials at Godman Army Airfield commissioned a new fuel cell at Fort Knox Aug. 3 that provides greater efficiency and storage capacity.

Under the old system, each of three tanks had their own pumps that required employees to couple and uncouple from to fill the storage tank with jet fuel. The new $3.8 million system couples to a tanker in one location, allowing an employee open or close pipe valves to each of four storage tanks.

Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan (center left) shares his gratitude with the engineers for successfully constructing the fuel cell. He told them the cell will help provide fuel for big fixed wing aircraft in future military operations.

Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan visited the site to watch the process in action.

“We want to make Godman a larger airfield,” said O’Bryan to contractors and employees participating in the commissioning event. “We can’t make Godman a larger airfield if we can’t fuel and refuel aircraft when they come out here. We want to bring in big fixed wing aircraft.

“This is our first step toward that.”

Engineers tested the new system throughout all of the previous week prior to flipping the switch. They ran a battery of tests as O’Bryan and others watched.

An intricate series of gauges, valves and cranks allow users to turn the flow of jet fuel to each of four storage tanks off and on all in one location and from one connection to a fuel tanker.

Fuel technicians watch gauges atop a fuel storage tank to ensure jet fuel is filling at the right capacity as what gauges are reading at the fuel cell.

The new cell with four tanks compared to the three prior increases fuel storage capacity from 20,000 gallons to 60,000. O’Bryan acknowledged the significance of the increase.

“As far as efficiency on the airfield and being able to fuel big fixed wing aircraft, it’s a huge thing,” said O’Bryan. “Just the capacity we get from this is going to help us move forward.”