AROUND NSA SOUDA BAY

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jason Reese Meritorious Advancement Ceremony

Photo by Personnel Specialist 1st Class John Braun, Administration Department

Newly-appointed Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jason Reese receives his Certificate of Appointment from Navy Capt. Rafael C. Facundo, NSA Souda Bay’s commanding officer, during his meritorious advancement ceremony on April 9 in front of Building 1. Reese, a native of Chicago, has been in the Navy for 6 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 2 years.

Reese is a member of Port Operations and is a qualified coxswain. He drives Port Operations boats, and places an oil boom around ships as they arrive at the NATO Marathi Pier Facility.

Reese said advancing to second class means furthering his knowledge of his rate and the Navy.

“Being a second class to me means stepping up into more of a leadership position, not only within my own division, but in the command as a whole,” said Reese.

Equipment Operator 2nd Class Jakob Wallis Meritorious Advancement Ceremony

Photo by Utilitiesman Constructionman Ryan Sanders, Public Works Department

Newly-appointed Equipment Operator 2nd Class Jakob Wallis receives his Second Class Petty Officer crow from Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Fairfield, NSA Souda Bay’s public works officer, during his meritorious advancement ceremony on April 23 in front of the Public Works buildings. Wallis, a native of Rhea County, Tenn., has been in the Navy for 4 years and 9 months and at NSA Souda Bay for 7 months.

Wallis is a member of Public Works Department's Transportation shop where he refuels boilers and generators and transfers people, equipment and supplies between NSA Souda Bay and the Marathi NATO Pier Facility.

Wallis said he is happy to be promoted because of the responsibility he feels for junior Sailors.

“I love a challenge and adding more responsibilities to my list, whether it’s writing evaluations for my junior Sailors or just looking at me as a role model to make them push harder to reach this level,” said Wallis “At the end of the day I have to remember that the junior troops have parents and families back home and they are counting on someone to take care of their child, as a second class we help take care of them.”

Team Souda Members Receive Awards for Supporting USS Eisenhower Port Visit

Photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Navy Capt. Rafael Facundo, commanding officer, recognized two Team Souda members for their outstanding support provided during the Nimitiz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) port visit in March.

Effie Papadakis, Protocol Officer

Letter of Commendation

Effie Papadakis, protocol officer, received a Letter of Commendation during an April 8 ceremony in front of Building 1.

Papadakis has worked at NSA Souda Bay since December 1980. As NSA Souda Bay’s protocol officer, she coordinates all aspects of official distinguished visitor’s visits to the installation including official tours, accommodations, schedules, accesses and host nation meetings. She also coordinates and escorts the commanding officer to all official events and meetings with host nation officials. During the month of March, she supported and executed seven distinguished visitor engagements in a period of 10 days.

“I feel very honored to be recognized in this way,” said Papadakis. “We all do the job to the best of our ability so it is wonderful when those efforts are appreciated and acknowledged.”

Lt. Elsie Dominguez, Military Sealift Command

Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Lt. Elsie Dominguez, operations officer, Military Sealift Command, received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during an April 23 ceremony in front of Building 1.

Dominguez, a native of Queens, N.Y., has worked in the Navy for 5 years and at NSA Souda Bay since January 2021. As Military Sealift Command’s operations officer, she coordinates fueling, sewage and cargo support for U.S. Naval Ships (noncommissioned ships that are property of the U.S. Navy) that arrive and depart from Souda Bay. During Eisenhower’s visit, she stepped out of her normal duties to assist by processing 118 base access requests for 845 Sailors and civilians, during the firstever carrier sandbox liberty at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility.

“This is actually my very first award,” said Dominguez. “It is nice to be recognized for my efforts because I am here just as an MSC representative, but I have been able to bleed in to full time support for Navy and the reason I received this award is because I came out of my normal duties and I did assist with a ton of blood, sweat and tears into the strike group pulling into Souda.”

Stelios Saravelakis

Local National of the Year

During an April 23 ceremony in front of Building 1, Navy Capt. Rafael Facundo, NSA Souda Bay’s commanding officer, recognized Team Souda’s 2020 Junior and Local National Civilian Employees of the Year.

Stelios Saravelakis, a firefighter with Fire and Emergency Services, is the Local National Civilian Employee of the Year.

Sarvelakis, a native of Chania, has worked at NSA Souda Bay since 2016. As a firefighter, he maintains and tests emergency responder respirators, which protect his fellow firefighters from atmospheric hazards during a fire. He is qualified in Airport Rescue and Firefighting to rescue passengers and crew of aviation accidents and incidents; as an Airfield Rescue and Firefighting Apparatus Driver to operate a fire department emergency vehicle used for rescuing people and combating fires in an aircraft or at an airport; and as a Structural Fire Engine Driver to drive the fire trucks, monitor the water pump and place ladders in the event of a fire.

“This award is for me as an individual, but all the team of the Fire Department do exceptional work,” said Sarvelakis. “We all make sure that we keep NSA Souda Bay safe fire-wise, hazmat-wise, aircraft-wise and in every aspect that we operate.”

Denise Prendergast

Junior Civilian of the Year

Denise Prendergast, a resiliency counselor at the Fleet and Family Support Center, is the Junior Civilian Employee of the Year.

Prendergast, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., has worked for the Navy since 2014. She previously served a temporary assignment at NSA Souda Bay for 10 weeks in 2019, helping out the Fleet and Family Support Center. She returned as a permanent Team Souda member in January 2020.

As a resiliency counselor, she is both a therapist and a sexual assault and prevention victim advocate, providing Team Souda with trainings and team building exercises, and counseling those who are struggling with a variety of issues. She said in 2020 she also supported other Fleet and Family Support Centers in the Region by providing 100 hours of distance counseling over the telephone and she helped the command stand up its first-ever Incident Determination Committee to address Family Advocacy Program needs.

“I am absolutely honored to win this award and be part of such an amazing team,” said Prendergast. “I feel like everyone at FFSC won because I couldn't do any of my job without those two amazing people.”

Chief Air Traffic Controller Daniel Ferdinand Reenlistment Ceremony

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Chief Air Traffic Controller Daniel Ferdinand recites the Oath of Reenlistment given by Cmdr. Michael Mosi, NSA Souda Bay’s executive officer, during his April 1 reenlistment ceremony in front of Building 1. Ferdinand, a native of New Brunswick, N.J., has been in the Navy for 14 years and 3 months and at NSA Souda Bay for a year and 6 months. He reenlisted for 6 more years.

Ferdinand is the Air Operations Department training chief, tracking his Sailors' training to make sure they conduct on-the-job training properly and receive their air operations qualifications.

Ferdinand said he chose to reenlist to serve 20 years in the Navy.

“This is the last one,” said Ferdinand. “After this I can choose to retire. I’ve absolutely reached that point in my career where this is something that I see myself doing all the way through, for the full 20 years. I’m happy the Navy has decided to keep me around for a little longer. I am going to do my best to accomplish as much as I can for the rest of my service.”

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Chelsea Parker Reenlistment Ceremony

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Chelsea Parker received her Certificate of Reenlistment from Ens. Christopher Gibbs, NSA Souda Bay’s security officer, during her April 23 reenlistment ceremony in the Security building. Parker, a native of Baltimore, has been in the Navy for 4 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 4 months.

Parker is a member of the Security Department, standing post at the front gate and conducting roving patrols to keep Team Souda Safe.

“I decided to reenlist because I would like to further my career in the military,” said Parker. “Also, I really enjoy my job as an MA because I get to interact with many different people every day.”

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gehrke Reenlistment Ceremony

Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gehrke recites the Oath of Reenlistment given by Lt. Col. Monica Sickler, flight doctor, 95th Reconnaissance Squadron Det. 1 and 21 Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, during his April 22 reenlistment ceremony on the wing of an RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft. Gehrke, a native of Elbow Lake, Minn., has been in the Air Force for 6 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 6 months.

Gehrke is a cyber transport systems specialist, making sure the squadron’s network infrastructure is operating properly so they can complete their missions.

Gehrke said he wanted to reenlist to travel Europe even more during his next assignment in Ramstein, Germany.

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Johamed Rodriguez Reenlistment Ceremony

Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Johamed Rodriguez received his Certificate of Reenlistment from Ens. Christopher Gibbs, NSA Souda Bay’s security officer, during his April 29 reenlistment ceremony in the Security building. Rodriguez, a native of Houston, has been in the Navy for 2 years and at NSA Souda Bay for about 2 years. He reenlisted for 5 more years.

Rodriguez is a member of the Security Department's Military Working Dog division as kennel support, maintaining in the cleanliness and safety of the kennel and assisting the MWD handlers with their training.

Rodriguez said he is reenlisting because he is going to school to become a military working dog handler and has an obligation to serve for 48 more months, the total required service (active duty and reserve commitments) that an individual must serve upon accepting an appointment.

“I’m trying to follow down the K-9 road, if I can pick up rank that would be awesome,” said Rodriguez. "One day hopefully I can work my way up to kennel master.”

Navy Chief, Navy Pride! NSA Souda Bay Celebrates Navy Chiefs’ Birthday

Photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

The Chiefs Mess salutes during morning colors on April 1.

Team Souda celebrated the 128th anniversary of the chief petty officer rank on April 1. During the celebration, Chief Air Traffic Controller Daniel Ferdinand and Chief Information Systems Technician Justin Storey raised the American and Greek flags while the Chiefs Mess observed morning colors in front of Building 1. Following colors, Command Master Chief Brian J. McDonough spoke in the Fleet’s Inn Galley about the responsibilities of a Navy chief and how chiefs changed his life.

“The Sailors’ lives that we are charged with changing are not just those in our rating, or in our department. They are every Sailor, everywhere,” said McDonough. “I know that we will continue to change lives because that is what the chief does. Happy 128th birthday to every chief petty officer in here, past and present. I could not be prouder of us. Thank you.”

The ceremony ended with McDonough, the oldest chief, and Storey, the youngest chief, cutting the birthday cake.

Chief Air Traffic Controller Daniel Ferdinand, left, and Chief Information Systems Technician Justin Storey, right, attach the American and Greek flags onto the hooks.

Chief Information Systems Technician Justin Storey and Command Master Chief Brian J. McDonough cut the cake during a ceremony celebrating the 128th anniversary of the chief petty officer rank at the Fleet’s Inn Galley.

FFSC Holds Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month Activities

Story by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

On April 1, Navy Capt. Rafael Facundo, NSA Souda Bay’s commanding officer, and Kirsten Diller, Fleet and Family Support Center director, hold the proclamation signed by Facundo declaring April to be Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month on the installation. Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs.

During April, NSA Souda Bay’s Fleet and Family Support Center held events supporting Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This year’s theme “Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission” reminded everyone to commit to treating others with respect, protecting each other from harm via active intervention, and empowering everyone to speak up or intervene.

Kirsten Diller, FFSC director and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, said the FFSC team wanted to inform everyone on Team Souda that it is everyone’s responsibility to fight against sexual assault. She said to raise awareness a proclamation signing was held with the Triad; a ‘Chalk The Walk’ contest was coordinated with Morale, Welfare, and Recreation’s Liberty Center with a gift card awarded for the best sidewalk design with a SAAPM message; and four “Protect Our People” bystander intervention training sessions were held for junior Sailors who reside in the barracks.

“If we remain silent when we see inappropriate behaviors, nothing changes and we become part of the problem,” said Diller. “It is important to note that SAPR awareness and prevention is not just an April event; it should be an important focus every month. The FFSC team is here to help anyone who has been a victim of a sexual assault.”

The winners of the ‘Chalk The Walk’ contest were from Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella Site Souda Bay’s Command Resiliency Team for their design depicting the SAPR Ribbon with this year’s theme “Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission.”

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Dan Shirley, NAVSUP FLCSI CRT lead, said CRT members are trained in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and hold trainings with their coworkers to relay their knowledge. Last year they held their first training given in the Greek language for host nation employees, he said.

For more information about the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, visit FFSC in Building 11 or call them at 266-1690. The SAPR Victim Advocate duty cell phone is available 24/7 and can be reached at +30 694-043-1130.

The ‘Chalk The Walk’ contest winners from Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella Site Souda Bay pose for a photo on April 26. Pictured from left to right: Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Shirley; Domenica Goniotaki, post office clerk; Logistics Specialist Seaman Daanzae Blandwarren; and Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Natasha Osagie. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs.

The winning design depicting the SAPR Ribbon with this year’s theme “Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission.” Photo courtesy of the Fleet and Family Support Center.

Pictured from left to right: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jacob Vernier, Gunner’s Mate Seaman Marcel Baines, and Builder 3rd Class Nakina Young demonstrate bystander intervention techniques by role-playing common scenarios Sailors face. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs.

USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) & USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) Visit

Photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and Arleigh Burkeclass guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) visited Souda Bay for a logistics and maintenance period on April 14. NSA Souda Bay provided port operations support to ensure they had the fuel, cargo and ammunition needed for the next stage of their journeys.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrives in Souda Bay.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrives in Souda Bay.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), left, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), right, are moored pierside in Souda Bay.

Hero on the Other End of the Line: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 11-17

Story and photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

NSA Souda Bay’s Emergency Dispatch Center set up an information table around the installation during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 11 – 17 to talk to Team Souda members about how dispatchers help during emergencies.

The job of a dispatcher is to answer the phone during an emergency, collecting information from the caller and ensuring the right people with the right equipment are sent to the correct location. To do this, the dispatcher follows a flow chart of specific questions to ask. For example, the dispatcher will always ask about the type of incident and ask the caller to say the address of the emergency and provide a callback number for verification.

Emergency Management Team Members Damage Controlman 1st Class Roneshia Redmond, Sotiris Kagadis and Kiki Fragioudaki pose for a photo at the information table.

Many dispatchers today are trained to provide real-time instructions in CPR and life-saving first aid while dispatching Emergency Medical Service professionals to the caller’s location. When calling dispatch, the most important thing you can do is listen carefully and do exactly what the dispatcher asks you to do; this could end up saving the person in need’s life.

Thank you to all of our emergency dispatchers for being ready 24/7 to provide a helpful voice when Team Souda members are in need.

For any emergency, always call dispatch before calling your friend, family or chain of command. Contact them by dialing 9-1-1 on base or 282-102-1911 from a cell phone.

Sotiris Kagadis, NSA Souda Bay’s Emergency Dispatch supervisor, explains the job of an emergency dispatcher and how to contact them during an emergency. to Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Edward Watson. Emergency Management Team Members Damage Controlman 1st Class Roneshia Redmond, Sotiris Kagadis and Kiki Fragioudaki pose for a photo at the information table.

Kiki Fragioudaki, an emergency dispatcher, explains information that a dispatcher follows during an emergency call to Culinary Specialist 1st Class John Taylor.

Community Outreach: Tree Planting at Agia Triada Monastery

Photos courtesy of Lt. Michael Spoke, Command Chaplain

Volunteers pose for a photo in front of the Agia Triada Monastery on April 24.

Volunteers from NSA Souda Bay participated in a community outreach project by planting trees at the Agia Triada Monastery April 24. The Chaplain's Office, in partnership with the Mouzouras Cultural Association, coordinated the event. Team Souda members and their families came and partnered with members of the community, planting 60 trees while enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of the monastery.

Lt. Elsie Dominguez, operations officer, Military Sealift Command, is all smiles after planting a tree.

Volunteers pose for a photo with a newly-planted tree.