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Soaring Heights Communities Advances $16 Million Reinvestment To Modernize Housing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

The Centinel Public Partnerships community will see significant interior, exterior and infrastructure updates to homes and public spaces

TUCSON, Ariz. (June 15, 2026) — Centinel Public Partnerships (Centinel), the U.S. Air Force’s privatized housing partner at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, is advancing a $16 million, multi-year reinvestment initiative to modernize homes, improve infrastructure and enhance the overall living experience for military families in Soaring Heights Communities.

Through the reinvestment, Centinel will deliver improvements for more than 1,100 homes in three residential neighborhoods, benefiting more than 3,500 residents. Work will be phased based on housing age, condition and operational priorities.

“Our reinvestment strategy is centered on delivering meaningful, lasting improvements that directly enhance the daily lives of residents, so that they can focus on family, life and mission-readiness,” said Matt Garrett, executive vice president of Asset Management at Centinel Public Partnerships. “At Davis-Monthan, this work reflects our continued commitment to maintaining high-quality homes, resilient infrastructure and responsive service for military families.”

The reinvestment will focus on revitalizing aging housing stock, particularly on homes originally constructed in the 1950s. Planned improvements include:

  • Interior upgrades such as luxury vinyl plank flooring, modern plumbing and lighting fixtures and updated appliances
  • Exterior enhancements and roof replacements across targeted neighborhoods
  • Phased modernization efforts prioritizing the highest-need homes first

The reinvestment also includes significant infrastructure upgrades to improve long-term reliability and performance of public utilities across the community, including:

  • Electrical system improvements across multiple residential areas
  • Underground utility upgrades to strengthen overall system resiliency
  • Infrastructure enhancements supporting more reliable and consistent public utility delivery

A key component of the initiative is the construction of a new maintenance facility, which will improve operational efficiency, increase maintenance capacity and support faster response times for residents across the community.

Additional improvements include accessibility enhancements to shared community amenities, supporting safe, functional and inclusive spaces for families.

This reinvestment will enhance housing quality, service responsiveness and long-term community sustainability for more than 3,500 residents at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, providing the full benefits of a community. These improvements prioritize homes typically occupied by non-commissioned officers and company-grade officers, ensuring alignment with the needs of active-duty service members and their families while supporting mission-readiness and community stability.

Centinel is one of the nation’s leading providers of privatized military housing and lodging, serving nearly 3.8 million military personnel, family members and guests annually. Across their portfolio of 10 housing communities and more than 70 hotels, Centinel is committed to continuous improvements, innovative construction and strategic reinvestment that care for all facets of life and contribute to the overall efficiency and mission-readiness of servicemen and -women.

For more information about Centinel, visit www.CentinelUS.com.

About Centinel Public Partnerships
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Centinel Public Partnerships is dedicated to enhancing the lives of U.S. military members and their families through its high-quality housing and lodging communities. Centinel’s leadership team brings nearly 25 years of experience to one of the largest military housing and lodging privatization portfolios in the United States, serving nearly 3.8 million military personnel, families and guests annually. Through its established partnerships with WinnResidential Military Housing Services and IHG® Hotels & Resorts, hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels, Centinel provides exceptional communities and lodging experiences for service members and their families. For more information, visit CentinelUS.com.

Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Davis is responsible for Centinel’s commercial services, including transactions, operations and government relations. He also oversees risk and compliance, along with leadership of Environment, Health and Safety, and Marketing and Public Affairs. Kevin spent 18 years with Lendlease in senior business development, commercial and legal roles, following earlier experience in private law practice and service in the U.S. Air Force.

With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and communications, Meryl Exley leads Centinel’s brand, communications and public affairs strategy as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs. She oversees corporate communications, client and customer engagement, public relations, media, and crisis management, strengthening the company’s reputation and community connections. Before Centinel, Meryl held senior marketing leadership roles at Lendlease, where she advanced growth and visibility for its military housing and lodging platform.

Matthew Garrett is Executive Vice President responsible for Centinel’s Air Force Housing and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He directs operations and strategic initiatives across both programs. Before joining Centinel, Matt held senior leadership roles at Lendlease, where he expanded its student housing platform and managed a military housing portfolio of more than 40,000 homes. He also led federal lobbying and outreach efforts, engaging with congressional and Department of Defense stakeholders. Earlier in his career, Matt served as a U.S. Army officer, earning a Bronze Star for Valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Leading Centinel’s legal, compliance and governance functions, Heather Niemeyer provides strategic counsel to support growth and manage risk across the portfolio. She brings more than 15 years of experience advising global organizations, including senior legal roles at Lendlease and earlier practice with two international law firms.

As Centinel’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeremy Martin is responsible for financial strategy, operations and reporting, guiding the company’s long-term growth and performance. He has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and real estate finance, with expertise in financial planning, compliance and risk management. Jeremy served as CFO for Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC prior to the company’s acquisition by Centinel, where he directed financial operations for Lendlease Communities.

Gretchen Turpen serves as Executive Vice President, Asset Management, where she directs operations and asset, property and development management for Centinel’s Army housing portfolio of more than 25,000 homes. In this role, she leads corporate strategy, financial performance, and client and customer relationships. Previously, Gretchen was Head of Lodging, where she delivered the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program including the renovation of over 12,000 hotel rooms across 40 military installations nationwide.

In his role as President, Phillip Carpenter guides operations for Centinel’s Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He is responsible for property management, asset management, development, construction, and environmental health and safety. With more than 40 years of experience supporting the Department of Defense, Phillip has held senior leadership positions with Lendlease and J&J Worldwide Services, bringing expertise in real estate, development and facilities management. 

Justin Kern, Chief Executive Officer of Centinel, sets the company’s strategic direction with a focus on long-term sustainment and outcomes for customers, partners and employees. He has more than 20 years of leadership in real estate finance, construction and operations. Prior to Centinel, Justin served as President and CEO of Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC, where he oversaw asset management, property management and development for military housing and lodging communities.