Joint Base Journal Vol. 4, No. 30
August 9, 2013
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J OINT B ASE A NACOSTIA-B OLLING
www.cnic.navy.mil/jbab
NAVFAC Washington welcomes new commander to region BY PAUL BELLO JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON - Navy Capt. Antonio M. Edmunds took command of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington during an official ceremony Aug. 8 at the Bolling Club on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB). Edmunds relieves outgoing commander, Navy Capt. Kenneth W. Branch, who retires after serving nearly 30 years in the military. A native of Elmira, N.Y., Edmunds’ first ever duty station was at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., where he served as a civil engineer in charge of design, as well as an assistant resident officer in charge of construction. He most recently served as the assistant chief of staff and director of facilities at Marine Corps Installations Command and Headquarters, where he managed all facilities and environmental programs and functions across the Marine Corps.
Overseas assignments include tours to Japan, Ethiopia, Germany and Turkey, where he served as a contingency engineer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “This is an important job that I don’t take lightly. It’s an absolute privilege to serve this command and you’ll get the best this officer has to offer,” Edmunds said. “I’m blessed to be inheriting such a high-performing team. Even in tough financial times, you’ve shown the ability to succeed. And we will continue to succeed in the future.” Branch, who began his naval career in 1985, has found himself in various roles over the years. He has worked with the Navy Seabees as an operations officer. He has also served under the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) as deputy director for its Shore Readiness Division. He assumed command of NAVFAC Washington in Aug. 2011 and became its regional engineer for NDW. During his tenure, Branch’s
accomplishments include enhancing overall safety guidelines, implementing the Navy’s Smart Grid Energy Program and developing the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center master plan. “It’s not easy to give up this command. But it’s a lot easier knowing a great officer is coming aboard,” Branch said. “The people I’ve worked with have been Navyready in every sense of the term. Whatever I’ve been able to accomplish here has been because of them. It’s been a privilege to serve with them.” The NAVFAC Washington workforce consists of more than 1,600 civilian and military personnel. They provide a full range of engineering products and services, with expertise in acquisition, public works, capital improvements, environmental, real estate, planning and asset management. The organization serves many supported commands through its Public Works Departments, such as the one on JBAB.
U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PAUL BELLO
Navy Capt. Antonio M. Edmonds assumed command of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington on Aug. 8.
Resident Energy Conservation Program live billing begins Oct. 1 BY LT. CMDR. JIM REMINGTON JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON - Accountability for electrical consumption to individual homes onboard Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) will soon be the responsibility of residents. Mock billing for the Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) began in June 2013 for those living in Bolling Family Housing, a Hunt Military community, and in July 2013 for Bellevue, a Lincoln Military Housing community. “It’s important to note that you and your family will reap the benefits of the money that is saved by this program,” said Vice Adm. William French, commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), in a video message to the fleet. “First with the refund from energy savings you and your family create by staying below the
average normal usage rate. Second, the vast majority of the RECP cost savings will be reinvested back into the local public private venture (PPV) community to sustain high-quality homes and neighborhood amenities such as playgrounds, facilities and landscaping.” Over the past few months base residents have been receiving “mock” bills allowing each to evaluate their home energy consumption before the first real bills are delivered in November for utilities used in the month of October. “The mock bills are intended to show your actual electrical consumption and billing costs, and how it compares with other homes in your like-type group,” said Julie Barnes, regional Navy Housing Program manager for NDW. “All billing costs will be based on the same electric rate charged for a particular housing area.” In the case of Bolling Housing, Hunt Military worked with its partners in base leadership and
INSIDE
the utilities billing company Minol USA to establish the baseline allowance for each home. This baseline is established according to the square footage of each floor plan. “Everybody with the same floor plan will be in a single grouping, and will get the same allowance across the board regardless of rank or family size,” said Stephanie Harris, assistant community director for Bolling Housing. “Once you reach that dollar amount that you are allotted, anything over that dollar amount you are responsible for paying.” To account for small changes in usage month to month relative to one’s baseline, and to minimize residents’ out-of-pocket payments, Minol has established a $50.00 buffer. A resident submits a payment only when the total amount owed exceeds $50.00. If it is less than
See ENERGY, Page 5
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Immunization Clinic has new hours As of Aug. 1, the 579th Medical Group Immunization Clinic will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. On Thursdays, the clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The clinic closes at 12 p.m. for training the first Wednesday of each month. For more information, call 202-404-6724.