NAVFAC MIDLANT awards contracts for multiple projects at Camp Lejeune, surrounding area

FromNavalFacilitiesEngineering SystemsCommandMid-Atlantic

NORFOLK Va Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) awarded Civil Works Contracting LLC, Wilmington, North Carolina (N40085-23-D-0013); Quadrant Construction Inc. Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-23-D-0014); and Riza Construction, Inc., Jacksonville, North Carolina (N40085-23-D-0015), a combinedmaximumvalueof$95,000,000 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indef- inite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for civil and paving projects at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and the surrounding area. WorkwillbeperformedatCampLejeune andthesurroundingarea,andisscheduled to be completed by January 2028

The maximum dollar value, including base period and four option years, is $95,000,000 Fiscal year 2023 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in theamountof$15,000areobligatedattime of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year

Contractorsmaycompeteforfuturetask orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management website with seven proposals received.

NAVFAC MIDLANT is the contracting activity

NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an areaofresponsibilitythatspansfromSouth CarolinatoMaine andasfarwestasMichigan, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively For additional information about NAVFAC MIDLANT on social media, follow our activities on Facebook at www facebook.com/navfacmidatlantic and on Instagram @navfacmidatlantic.

USS West Virginia bids farewell to commanding officer

ByChiefPettyOfficerAshleyBerumen

Commander Submarine Group Ten KINGSBAY,Ga. TheOhio-classballistic-missile submarine USS West Virginia (SSBN736)heldachangeofcommandceremonyonboardNavalSubmarineBaseKings Bay,Georgia,January26

Cmdr James Kepper IV relieved Cmdr Joseph Pisoni as the commanding officer ofWestVirginia’sBlueCrewinaceremony heldatthebasechapel

Capt.CharlesMcLenithan,commodoreof SubmarineSquadron17 wastheceremony’s guest speaker and praised Pisoni’s leadershipduringhistour.

“The strongest teams hold a shared purpose that is well understood with an engrainedstandardofdailyexecutionanda strong individual sense of worth and unity as a valuable part of an elite team,” said McLenithan “Weneedtodothebesteveryday as leaders and peers to foster the environmentsthatallowthesetypesofteamsto manifestandflourish.IknowJoePisonidid thisandwillcontinuetodothisinserviceto ournation.”

During the ceremony, Captain Eric D. Cole, commodore of Submarine Squadron 20 awarded Pisoni with the Meritorious Service Medal for his service as commandingofficer

“In Joe’s time in Command his team made their mark on this vital mission of Strategic Deterrence,” said McLenithan. “Joe completed four outstanding patrols in Command.Throughhisleadershiphiscrew was always ready to answer the call for our nation His team pushed the envelope on SSBNoperationsoverthefullgamut.”

Pisoni, from DuBois Pennsylvania, received his commission through the NuclearEnlistedCommissioningProgram. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a Master of Science in aerospace engineering He completed the NATO Defense College Senior Course in

Rome, Italy

“I’ve been asked why I keep doing this job,” said Pisoni. “The answer is simple I know it makes a difference in the world. I watched American Sailors born in other countries from nearly every corner of our nation,Sailorsfrominnercities,ruraltowns Sailors from every walk of life who didn’t care about their differences These Sailors simply took care of one another in support of the ultimate mission of strategic deterrence, to make a difference in the lives of everysingleAmericanandeverysinglecitizen around the world whether they knew itornot.

Pisoni took command of the ship’s Blue Crew in June 2020 Under his command, the crew accomplished the first Ohio-class SSBN deployment in the Indian Ocean, the firstexchangeofcommandatseausingonly two transfers of personnel, the first missile ripple-launchinnearlytwodecades.Inaddition,theysuccessfullycompletednumerous evaluations,inspectionsandexercises

Pisoni’s personal awards include the Navy Unit Commendation and Battle Efficiency “E.” He has earned the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well asotherpersonalandcampaignawards

During his speech Pisoni addressed the crewandtheirincomingcommandingofficer,Kepper “WestVirginia,takecareofCmdr Kepper as you did me,” said Pisoni. “He has a stellar record of success and will take you far Jimmy, you are getting the best crew any

[commandingofficer]couldwishfor.”

For his next assignment, Pisoni will report to U.S. Fleet Forces as a senior board member for the Nuclear Propulsion ExaminationBoard

Kepper, from New Orleans, Louisiana, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy withabachelor’sdegreeinmechanicalengineering HepreviouslyservedastheNuclear EnlistedCommunityandProgramManager fortheDeputyChiefofNavalOperationsfor Manpower,Personnel,Training andEducation

“We are about to enter into one of the toughest periods of a ship’s operational cycle,” said Kepper “Extended maintenanceavailabilitiesbringuniquechallenges ofexecutingcomplexandinfrequentevolutions,maintainingourat-seaproficiencyand skill sets, all while welcoming new Mountaineers as we say farewell to current ones But,makenomistake executingthismaintenanceontimewiththesupportoftheentire Kings Bay team provides a unique advantagethatwehaveoverouradversaries the ability to keep our ships and the number of ships at sea for extended periods of time to providethenecessaryglobalpresence.”

Keppersaidhelookedforwardtowhatis instoreforUSSWestVirginia’sBlueCrew

“It is an honor and privilege to join this elite team of professional submariners as your new Commanding Officer,” said Kepper “Ourship’smissionisoneofutmost importanceandisregardedasthetopprioritybyournation’shighestleadership West Virginiaensurescredibilityofourstrategic forces to protect our nation and our allies And, in today’s times of strategic competition, we must continue to answer the call,”

USS West Virginia was commissioned in 1990, and is the eleventh Ohio-class submarine She is the third trident submarine fitted with the Trident II D-5 missile system to be homeported in Kings Bay, Ga. ThebaseishometoalleastcoastOhio-class submarines