Walter Reed National Military Medical Center recognizes Medal of Honor Day 2023

ByPettyOfficer1stClassJesseSharpe

Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Bethesda

BETHESDA, Md Walter Reed National MilitaryMedicalCenter(WRNMMC)joinsthe nationincommemoratingMedalofHonorDay 2023, a day set aside to honor the courageous menandwomenwhohavereceivedthenation’s highest military honor. This day is celebrated annuallyonMarch25tomarktheanniversary of the first Medal of Honor being awarded in 1863 TheMedalofHonorisawardedtomembers oftheU.S.armedforceswhohavedemonstrated extraordinary acts of valor and selflessness in combat Itisasymbolofthesacrificesmadeby thosewhohaveservedourcountryandatestamenttothebraveryandcourageofourservice members.WehonorthesacrificesandselflessnessofallMedalofHonorrecipients,whohave puttheirlivesonthelinetodefendourfreedoms andwayoflife.

WRNMMCwouldliketoexpressourdeepest gratitude to all Medal of Honor recipients and their families. We will continue to honor theirlegacybyprovidingthebestpossiblecare toournation’swounded,ill,andinjuredservice members.Theirserviceandsacrificewillnever beforgotten.

WRNMMC,theworld’spremier,integrated military medical center and where the nation heals our heroes, strives to provide extraordinaryexperiencesforpatients,families,andstaff while driving tomorrow’s healthcare advances through education, innovation, and research ForadditionalinformationaboutWRNMMC pleasevisitusathttps://walterreed.tricare.mil/.

ByPublicAffairsOffice

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport NEWPORT, R.I. Strong guidance from womenleadershasplayedanimportantrole forMeganDriggersandJaimeFastinointheir careersattheNavalUnderseaWarfareCenter (NUWC)DivisionNewport.

When Driggers, a resident of West Warwick, Rhode Island, who is an engineer in the Devices, Sensors and Materials Research and Development Branch of the Sensors and Sonar Systems Department, began working at Division Newport in June 2022, she was inspired by the passion of Dr Lynn Antonelli, who is the technical programmanageroftheLasers,Sensorsand Systems Program.

“When I first got here, I worked closely with Dr Antonelli and she helped me figure out who I was as an individual and what my passions are,” said Driggers, who is now Antonelli’s deputy technical program manager “She has mentored me tocontinueworkingdownthatpath.Seeing howpassionatesheisaboutherresearchand what she does, and helping her to lift it up and make a difference in the S&T community, has been amazing.”

It has been a similar experience for Fastino,aresidentofNewport,RhodeIsland, who is a financial analyst in the Business Operations Office of the Undersea Warfare Combat Systems Department.

AftercompletinganinternshipatDivision Newportwhileearningbachelor’sdegreesin accountingandfinancefromtheUniversity ofMassachusetts-Dartmouth,Fastino’srelationshipwithhersupervisor,MarieLevada, playedaconsiderableroleinheracceptinga job at the command.

“She’s unbelievable She’s been such a greatmentortomeandagreatboss,”Fastino said.“Ihaven’thadthatinthepastatsomeof theotherplacesI’veworked Thatwasreally refreshing to have that and have another womaninleadershipwhoismybossjustbe so understanding and thoughtful.”

Now,eachwithsomeexperienceworking at Division Newport, Fastino and Driggers are trying to make sure the command’s new hires encounter the same welcoming environment.

In addition to their everyday responsibilities at Division Newport, Fastino and Driggers serve as chair and vice-chair of Division Newport’s New Professionals Network (NPN), respectively The two also participated in Division Newport’s Women’s History Month video, which can beviewedhere:https://www.dvidshub.net/ video/876819/womens-history-month.

“The New Professional Network is all about assisting individuals, both new and experienced, in creating professional relationships, as well as career development by hosting professional and social events,” Fastino said. “We strive to help individuals make connections and to help promote knowledge sharing of technical skills and personalinterests Wealsoassistnewprofessionals by introducing them to government resources.”

Currently, the distribution list for the NPN and Teams is about 1,100 members. The group has more events planned for the end of March and April Typically, events drawabout30to40peopleandanadditional hundred or so if it is on Teams, Fastino said AnyonewhohasbeenatDivisionNewport for five years or less is considered a new professional, but the group is inclusive to both new and experienced professionals, Fastino added.

“Sometimes working in the Business Office I feel like I’m just a little piece of the puzzle I’m not a scientist, engineer or mathematician but I know I matter and my job matters Everyone at NUWC’s job matters andthisidealedmetotakeonmore leadership,” Fastino said. “I got involved with the New Professional Network here at NUWCandthathasgivenmesuchanopportunity to be a leader, to meet other people, to coordinate events for individuals to have thatsocial-workenvironmenttofeellikeyou belong to a nice working society That has been another great opportunity and something I really love doing here, besides my job.”

FastinodecidedtogetinvolvedwithNPN becausesheknowshowdifficultitcanbeas newprofessional particularlyawoman just starting out in their career

“That was one of my biggest challenges Theworldisyouroysterwhenyou’reyoung and it’s so hard to figure out what you want todoandifit’stherightchoice,”Fastinosaid. “Specifically, working for the government, is such a great choice It gives you that great work-lifebalance whichIknowIappreciate alot,butI’mstillgivenalotofopportunities at the same time

“Wehaveareallygreat,inclusiveenvironment here but there have been times in my life where because I’m a woman, I’m not a peer I can’t be as smart as you or top of the class because I’m a girl especially in my field, finance and accounting specifically are extremely male-dominated. I found that at times because I’m a woman people thought I couldn’t be smart or I couldn’t viewed as an equal or a peer, but at the end ofthedayI’mworkingjustashardaseveryone else.”

Like Fastino, Driggers is thankful for the welcoming environment at Division Newport, but in the past has experienced being the only woman in a male-dominated field.

She remembers when she was the only femalemathleteinherhighschoolandonly womaninhermaster’sprogram.Atimeearly in her career, a six-month deployment with aspecialforcesunitintheMiddleEast,also stood out.

“I was the only woman at that time that wasintheprogram,soIwastheonlywoman that volunteered to go over there. A lot of people asked me beforehand are you sure you’re ready to do this? In the past, there haven’tbeenmanywomenandtheyweren’t sure how it was going to go,”

Driggers said. “There were a lot of challengesthatIhad,especiallywhenitcameto respect.Backstateside,noonehaseverquestioned my intelligence before. I’ve built up all this past work experience and a résumé that’srecognized,butwhenyougooverseas andthey’renotusedtoseeingwomeneverydaytheystarttoquestionwhetheryouhave the same level as a man. Through my work, I showed them there’s no difference

“It ended up being a great experience Sure, a lot of men were confused to see a woman on a special forces base, but it was a great experience I could do just as much as any man could so I felt like I did a great job anditwasagoodexperiencetobehand-andhand with the warfighter to support them and make a difference.”

Family also has been important for both women. Driggers grew up in a Department ofDefense(DoD)household,asherparents metworkingaselectricalengineersatLockheedMartinCorp Bothlatertransitionedto roles with the government

“My dad became a superintendent at the Naval Research Laboratory and my mom went on to join the Navy as an active duty member and become a medical doctor,” Driggers said “She worked for the Navy for 14 years, so I grew up in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) household that was very DoD-oriented. I was always very passionate about it.

“When I went to college I applied for the SMART scholarship, and the DoD paid for mycollegeandthenIstartedworkingatthe Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City for a few years before going back to get mymaster’sandtransferringtoNUWCDivision Newport.”

ForFastino,hermotherandgrandmother both serve as inspirations

“My mom is a small business owner She hasworkedinthatfieldandownedthatbusinesssinceIwastwoyearsold Shestillowns the company to this day, and I think that’s alsowhyIwenttobusinessschoolisbecause of her and her teachings,” Fastino said. “I used to work at her company when I was

Megan Driggers,an engineerin the Naval UnderseaWarfare CenterDivision Newport’s Sensors and SonarSystems Department shares herworkexperiences as part ofthe command’s celebration ofWomen’s History Month.(PHOTOBYSHAWNPROCUNIAR NAVALUNDERSEAWARFARECENTERDIVISION NEWPORT)

Q: Whattypesoffamily housingareavailable?

A: There are three types of housing available to families:

Public/PrivateVenture(PPV)

Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible forthe construction, renovation,maintenance and day-to-day management ofthe housing PPVhousing may be located on oroffgovernment property and in most cases will be formermilitary housing GovernmentOwned (also known as Military Housing orNavy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing While only available in limited quantities CONUS,Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. CommunityHousing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPVor government operated This is housing outside ofthe base that is privately owned and operated

NAVY HOUSING

Norfolk: 757.445.2832

JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792

Oceana/DamNeck: 757.433.3268

Yorktown: 757.847.7806

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost

FUNCTIONSAND/OR

SERVICESFFSCPROVIDES:

ClinicalCounseling – Individual, Couplesand ChildCounseling

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Jaime Fastino a financial analyst in the Business Operations Office ofthe Naval UnderseaWarfare CenterDivision Newport’s UnderseaWarfare Combat Systems Department shares herworkexperiences as part ofthe command’s celebration of Women’s HistoryMonth.(PHOTOBYSHAWN PROCUNIAR NAVALUNDERSEAWARFARE CENTERDIVISIONNEWPORT) younger, doing bookkeeping and learning the ropes from her

“She’sintegraltobeingarolemodelforme and my grandmother is as well. She worked in the factories back in the day in Fall River, Massachusetts, and had seven children that she helped raise She finished her high schooldegreeat62,whichwasreallyinspiring.Shewasalwaysreallytoughandtoldme to work hard, and that’s what I do.”

NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869 Commanded by Capt. Chad Hennings, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and AndrosIslandintheBahamas,aswellastest facilitiesatSenecaLakeandFisher’sIsland, New York, Leesburg, Florida, and Dodge Pond, Connecticut.

Joinourteam!NUWCDivisionNewport, one of the 20 largest employers in Rhode Island, employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists,andotherSTEMprofessionals,aswell as talented business, finance, logistics and other support experts who wish to be at the forefront of undersea research and development. Please connect with NUWC DivisionNewportRecruitingatthissite-https:// www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/Career-Opportunities/ and follow us on LinkedIn @ NUWC-Newport and on Facebook @ NUWCNewport

Officer in Charge of Construction Portsmouth Naval Shipyard selects Engineers of the Year

ByVictoriaArel

Officer in Charge of Construction

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems

Command (NAVFAC) Officer in Charge of Construction Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (OICC PNSY) announced its Civilian and MilitaryEngineersoftheYearawardselectionsfor2023

“I’m pleased to congratulate and share our OICC PNSY Engineer of the Year award winners,” said Capt. Frank Carroll, commanding officer, OICC PNSY “Aaron Belanger, E.I.T., an electrical engineer, was selected as our Civilian Engineer of the Year and Lt Cmdr Christopher Thomas P.E.,ExecutiveOfficer,andOperationsOfficerwasselectedasMilitaryEngineerofthe Year.”

Each year, NAVFAC echelon 3 and 4 commandsselecttheirCivilianandMilitary EngineeroftheYearinahighlycompetitive process The winners go on to compete for the NAVFAC Engineer of the Year awards, as well as potentially higher honors in the National Society of Professional Engineers

FederalEngineeroftheYearawardprogram.

Belanger, a resident of Newton, New Hampshire, has served as the sole electrical engineer and subject matter expert for all electrical utility and building systems During the last two years he has supported 14 projects with a total construction value ofover$2.2billion,whilealsoservingasthe designmanageronmanyadditionalprojects

“The OICC PNSY portfolio of largescaleanddiverseprojectspresentedagreat opportunity to challenge all aspects of my careergrowth,”saidBelanger “Thisexperienceencouragedmetotakeastepbackand acknowledgethelargerpictureasIworked through decision-making processes It also helpedtodevelopmycommunicationabilities and widen my skill set I am honored to have been chosen as the OICC PNSY Civilian Engineer of the Year and appreciate the recognition of my efforts in support of the mission.”

According to Carroll, “Much of Aaron’s successcanbeattributedtothestrongrelationships he builds Whether working with internal teams contractors, or other stakeholders these relationships enable him to deliver quality projects, often overcoming complexchallenges,tosupportthemission oftheU.S.Navy.” Lt Cmdr Thomas, who received his commission in 2008, hails from Fort Washington,Maryland,hasdemonstratedexemplaryengineering construction,acquisition, and leadership skills since joining the NAVFACteam.Bydevelopingaprogramof 15time-criticalandcomplexprojects,hehas activelyledtheOICCPNSYportfoliovalued at$2.4billion.

“Lt. Cmdr Thomas is a shining star amongst the exceptional talent within the Navy Civil Engineer Corps community He is well-known and respected by his subordinates peers and leadership and is most deserving of this honor,” said Carroll. “In additiontothisaward,Lt Cmdr Thomashas alsobeenawarded2023Modern-DayTechnologyLeaderbyUSBEandITmagazine.”

Thomas was a driving force in the award and subsequent initial construction phase of the Multi-Mission Dry Dock #1 project, which is a $1.8B mega-project for the construction of two state-of-the-art dry docks at PNSY This project will double the shipyard’s Virginia-class docking and submarine overhaul capabilities, and is the largest construction project ever awarded bytheNavy

“I am grateful to be selected by the commandastheOICCPNSYMilitaryEngineer of the Year The work being done here insupportoftheshipyardandtheNavyhas been and continues to be an exciting challenge,” said Thomas “I’m extremely proud tobeapartofthisteam.“

“Therearen’ttwomoredeservingindividualsforthisprestigiousrecognition,”Carroll added.

NAVFAC OICC PNSY leads the way with Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) projects and Service Life Extension Projects (SLEP), providing postaward construction oversight for over $2.8 billionofMilitaryConstruction(MILCON) and Special Projects This organization allowsforadedicatedfocusontheconstruction of critical production support projects insupportofthefleet.

USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) holds change of command ceremony

StoryByLt.Cmdr SethKoenig

Submarine Readiness Squadron (SRS) 32

KITTERY, Maine Cmdr Samuel Bell turned command of USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) over to Cmdr Kyle Calton in a traditional change of command ceremony held Friday,March24,atPortsmouthNavalShipyardinKittery,Maine.

Capt.DanielReiss,commanderofSubmarine Squadron (SUBRON) 2, served as the presiding officer over the ceremony, while Col.(ret.)Buckley“Buck”O’Day,U.S.Army, wastheguestspeaker.

Bell took command of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine in January of 2021, when Cheyenne was stationed in PearlHarbor,Hawaii Lessthanfivemonths later, SSN 773 shifted homeports to Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, for preparations for its regularly scheduled refueling and then ultimatelytoPortsmouthNavalShipyard “Ithasbeenthehonorofalifetime‘Riding the Legend’ as the commanding officer of USSCheyenne,”saidBell,anativeofWrightstown,NewJersey “We’vecomealongway over the past few years, literally and figuratively FromPearlHarbortoGrotonandnow Kittery the incredible submariners on this crew have inspired me every day with their professionalismandsteadfastcommitment toexcellence.”

During Bell’s tenure, the crew of CheyenneearnedthecovetedBattleE orBattle Efficiency awardforSUBRON2for2022, recognizing greatest overall excellence in performance, as well as departmental awardsfornavigationandsupply

Bell’s crew became prolific ambassadors for the U.S. Navy during his tour as well, serving as the host crew in Groton for the French submarine FNS Améthyste (S605) in2021,workingwithfirstrespondersfrom morethanadozencivilianfiredepartments during a large-scale priority exercise later thatyear,andrepresentingtheNavyatCheyenne, Wyoming’s signature Frontier Days festivalin2022 “I owe a debt of gratitude to my family and the families of the crew who have tirelessly supported us during this time of great transition,” Bell said. “I know Cheyennewillcontinuetothriveundertheguidance of Squadron 2 and the leadership of

Cmdr Calton and I can’t wait to see what theyaccomplishinthecomingyears.

Following his Cheyenne command tour, Bell will move on to serve as the U.S. Navy operational liaison and special assistant to the director of the DefenseAdvanced PlanningResearchAgency

“Cmdr BellhasledthecrewofCheyenne throughaperiodoftremendouschangeand has perfectlylinedthis teamuptoreturn to the fight better than ever,” said Calton, a nativeofLouisville,Kentucky “I’mhumbled to have this opportunity to follow in his footstepsandworkwiththeseamazingand dedicatedsubmarinersaswecompletethat journeyandgetbacktothetipofthespear.”

USSCheyennewascommissionedin1996 as the last of the Los Angeles-class submarinesbeforethelaunchofthenewerVirginia-classfast-attacksubmarines

SSN 773 is the third U.S. Navy ship to be named for the capital of Wyoming but first tocarrythenameatitslaunch astheprevious two a tug boat decommissioned in 1898andArkansas-classmonitordecommissioned in 1926 were renamed USS Cheyenneaftertheirrespectivelaunches Fast-attack submarines are multi-mis- sion platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities sea control,powerprojection,forwardpresence, maritime security and deterrence They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, specialoperations,intelligence,surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and minewarfare.Fast-attacksubmarinesproject power ashore with special operations forcesandTomahawkcruisemissilesinthe preventionorresponsetoregionalcrises

Hylton-Sanderson,Naval Medical Research Center(NMRC)’s department head foradministration.NMRC is engaged in

SILVERSPRING,Md.(Mar 09,2023) ofactivityfrom basic science in the laboratoryto field studies in austere and remote areas oftheworld to investigations in environments.In

Corps and joint U.S.warfighters,researchers studyinfectious diseases,biologicalwarfare detection and defense,combat casualtycare environmental health concerns,aerospace medicine, medical modeling simulation,operational mission support,epidemiologyand behavioral sciences (U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYSIDNEYHINDS/RELEASED)