Souda Spotlight: Rick Valentine, Business Manager

Business Operations (N5)

Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

Rick Valentine, a native of DeLand, Fla., enlisted in the Navy in 1971

to be a Navy diver. He served 38 years on active duty and six years in the Naval Reserves, during which he promoted to chief petty officer and selected for commissioning. He retired as an O-6 and the commanding officer of Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J. Seeking out the Mediterranean lifestyle he experienced while stationed in Naples, Italy, he decided to continue his Navy career as a civilian by joining Team Souda in 2015 as the business manager. Now he helps the installation support the mission in the Europe, Africa, and Central region.

Why did you decide to join the Navy?

I went into the Navy to become a Navy diver. A television show that was popular back in that time was Sea Hunt. So I said, I like what Mike Nelson, he was the lead guy in Sea Hunt, was all about – the different diving exploits that he did as part of the TV series. And I liked growing up diving in the springs of Central Florida. I was diving in high school and it was my passion. So coming into the Navy, that’s what I wanted to do and that’s what I did.

What does the Business Manager do here?

It’s business operations in terms of strategy and future requirements of everything that goes on here.

What is NSA Souda Bay's "business"?

Well, you to go to our mission statement and CNIC's mission statement. All CNIC installations support the Fleet, fighter and family. So, then you get into what is Souda Bay's mission statement. We essentially support deploying units going to the EUCOM, AFRICOM and CENTCOM theater. I'm talking about those who want to deploy out of here. And we determine our ability to provide base operating support services to those deploying units.

How do you know if we can support a request?

When a unit decides it wants to go to an installation they are required to submit a Space and Support Utilization Request Form, colloquially know as the SURF, so that the installation can staff their request and determine it’s supportability. Another product we use to determine an installation's capacity to support is the Base Capacity Assessment Tool, known as the BCAT. It provides to leadership at the EURAFCENT and EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM levels, a snapshot of the different capacities that exist within the mission areas (Air Ops, Port Ops, etc.) If leadership says, 'Oh, I think I'm going to go to Installation X and do a mission', they can pull up the BCAT and determine if they have enough fuel capacity or aircraft parking spots there, etc.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

38 years of Navy diving, through all the Navy diving schools, I still like to get wet. Another reason for wanting to come to Souda Bay was because of the awesome diving that it offers here. I love to go diving in my off-duty time.

Where do you like to dive in Crete?

The caves, caverns and tunnels around the Kalathas area, and the popular one, known as the Elephant Cave, over by Kalyves – those are two of my favorites.

Anything else you like to do in Crete?

Going to the different wineries that are on Crete. My wife and I both enjoy visiting the wineries and love the Greek wine. And, as well, the other travel opportunities, not only within Greece, but elsewhere in Europe, when COVID allows.

What do you want Team Souda to know?

For such a small base, just under 1,000 personnel, we are very busy here. We’re starting to see visits, travel and missions return now because of more vaccinations and COVID measures being relaxed. Team Souda as a whole is busy on a day in, day out basis keeping Souda Bay at the fore supporting the Fleet, the warfighter and the family.