Blueprint for success: A decade up the ladder at NAVFAC Washington

ByMatthewStinson Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington

WhenJamesThompsonbeganhiscareer in the federal government as an air conditioning student trainee he never thought hewouldberunningthewholeshowasthe top civilian at Public Works Department South Potomac, Indian Head. And definitelynotafterjust10yearsintohiscareer While his story of early-life hardship may be all too common, Thompson’s perseverance is not. Today, he is recognized as a model leader and is putting in the work to help his teammates below him at Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC)Washingtonclimbupthecareer ladder too

Structural Design

Thompson serves NAVFAC Washington asthedeputypublicworksofficerforNaval Support Activity South Potomac Indian Head. He attacks each day, waking at three o’clockinthemorningtomeditateandpray, workout,anddosomereadingandjournaling Hisroutineisstrict,andhemodelsitfor his four children to impart his “work now, playlater”philosophy.

“I try to instill not just a work ethic, but uplift and empower my children as well,” said Thompson “I do affirmations with them like, ‘Who can stop you? Only you.’ They see me meditate and I try and lead by example The same way I carry myself at work.

Thompson is just 33 years-old and was born and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland right outside of the District of

Columbia Heexperiencedadifficultchildhood he now credits for both his ambition and sense of humility

“You can call it a beautiful blessing now, but it was a rough upbringing,” he said.

“Homeless shelters No place to stay Kind of bouncing around,” he said. “My wife helped show me something different.”

He met his wife Denise, in 2008 She’s very extroverted. He’s not At least not in his private life Opposites attract ShewasastudentatMarymountUniversity,buildingthefoundationforherfuture. He was bouncing around from one dead

BuildingFromtheGroundUp

Thompsontooktheinitiativeandenrolled in trade school for HVAC at the College of Southern Maryland. During his introductorycourse NAVFACrecruiterscametothe college to interview students for a possible apprenticeshipwiththecommand

“I had no high expectations, but Denise strongly encouraged me to at least think positively and give it a try,” said Thompson “I know I don’t look like the ideal person who would come work for the government, but I poured my heart out. I basically expressed if they give me an opportunity, I’llgivethemareturnontheirinvestment.”

Soon after he received a call and was offered a job with NAVFAC Washington at NSASP, Dahlgren as an air conditioning studenttrainee end job to another Shegraduatedandhadaplan.Hedidnot. But he knew he had to get one, and fast, if he wanted to stay with her “Basically, I was at the crossroads of life in 2011,” he said. “No situation of stable living, working for minimum wage at a fast-food restaurant as a means of getting to tomorrow.”

Hisroughupbringinglefthimfeelingthat he was only destined for dark days Things changed when he was introduced to the HVAC trade by a mentor who saw somethingspecialinhim.

The apprenticeship was a four-year programconsistingofclassroomcoursesand on-the-jobtrainingwithmentorsworkingin the production division at Dahlgren. Provingtobeanexceptionalstudent thecollege soon made him an instructor At one point, he was taking HVAC courses two nights a week as a student while teaching introductoryclassesontwodifferentnights

“Thebiggestticketwastheopportunityto teach,”hesaid “Tobeinthepositiontogive back when before I didn’t even see myself being alive by that point in my life Having thatopportunityalonewasagreatblessing.”

This young man from a humble backgroundwasinductedintotheNationalTechnical Honor Society obtained his master HVAC license, and after graduating from theapprenticeshipprogram,waspromoted