Griffiss Air Force Base

Griffiss Air Force Base. A former major installation of theUnited States Air Force located near Rome, New York, it played a pivotal role in Cold War operations and technological development for over five decades. Named in honor of World War II aviator Lt. Col. Townsend Griffiss, the base was a key hub for Strategic Air Command bombers and later for Air Force Materiel Command research. Its closure under the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission led to a significant transformation into a civilian technology park.

History

The site was originally developed as the Rome Air Depot in 1941 to support the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Following the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947, it was renamed in 1948 for Townsend Griffiss, the first American Air Forces officer killed in Europe during the war. Throughout the Cold War, it served as a critical Strategic Air Command base, hosting B-52 Stratofortress and FB-111 Aardvark aircraft on nuclear alert. The base was also central to the development of the Global Positioning System and housed the Eastern Air Defense Sector. Its operational history concluded with its selection for closure by the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Major commands and units

For much of the Cold War, the base was home to the 416th Bombardment Wing under Strategic Air Command, operating B-52 Stratofortress and later FB-111 Aardvark bombers. Other significant tenants included the 485th Bombardment Wing and the 509th Bombardment Wing. In later years, Air Force Materiel Command assumed a major role, with the Rome Air Development Center conducting advanced research for the Air Force Systems Command. The North American Aerospace Defense Command also maintained a presence through the Eastern Air Defense Sector, which continues operations at the site today.

Facilities and infrastructure

The base featured extensive infrastructure, including a 12,000-foot runway capable of handling the largest United States Air Force aircraft like the B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker. Its technical facilities housed the Rome Air Development Center, a premier laboratory for C3 and EW research. Other notable structures were the massive Strategic Air Command alert hangars, a large Base exchange, and extensive family housing areas. The installation also contained a DoD-supervised Child development center and recreational facilities like the Griffiss Golf Club.

Environmental issues

Like many former industrial and military sites, the base required significant environmental remediation following its closure. The United States Environmental Protection Agency listed it on the National Priorities List as a Superfund site due to contamination from PCBs, VOCs, and other hazardous materials linked to past operations. Cleanup efforts, managed by the United States Air Force and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, focused on groundwater treatment and soil removal. These ongoing projects are a standard part of the Base Realignment and Closure process for transferring property.

Current use and redevelopment

Following closure, the property was transferred to the local community under the auspices of the City of Rome and redeveloped as the Griffiss Business and Technology Park. Major tenants now include the Eastern Air Defense Sector, the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate, and the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance. The Oneida County airport authority operates the runway as Rome Sentinel Field. The park also hosts private sector firms, academic institutions like the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, and a National Park Service-affiliated visitor center for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force Category:Buildings and structures in Oneida County, New York Category:Superfund sites in New York (state)