January 31, 2014
SOUTH POTOMAC PILOT NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUTH POTOMAC DEFENSE COMMUNITY
Pentagon Division holds annual inspection By Andrew Revelos
Link directly to the NSASP Facebook page on your smart phone
INSIDE:
PRESORT STD US POSTAGE PAID SO. MD. NEWSPAPERS PERMIT #1
Dahlgren Cupid Raids Page 2
The Pentagon Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps held its annual inspection Jan. 19 at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in a ceremony that also featured promotions, awards and an impressive drill team exhibition. The inspection was conducted by Cmdr. Elvis Mikel, executive officer of Naval Support Activity South Potomac and the ceremony’s guest speaker. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps are sea servicesthemed organizations for young people ages 10 to 18 that emphasize community service, teamwork, citizenship and discipline. Naval Support Activity South Potomac hosts Pentagon Division for its monthly drill weekends and activities. “Thank you everyone for inviting me to this event today and allowing me to participate in the inspection,” Mikel told the instructors, cadets and parents. “NSA South Potomac has a long
Anchors Away! The Pentagon Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps sing the familiar tune as they march in for their annual inspection Jan. 19 at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren. history of supporting the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps. We’re very happy that you have chosen to
meet, train and to have your events here at Dahlgren. It brings a lot to the base. All of the active duty personnel love seeing the young faces,
the enthusiasm. It really puts a smile on our faces as we go through our day to see you interest when you come aboard. We’ve very
proud of [Pentagon Division].” Mikel praised Pentagon Division for the qualities it helps instill in young people. “It is vitally important that organizations like the Sea Cadets help foster leadership abilities, broaden horizons, provide hands-on training, and bring young men and women and their families information about maritime life and seagoing skills,” he said. “It’s [also] a lot of fun. The patriotism, courage and self-reliance they teach is vitally important for young people as they grow up and become the citizens we all need them to be.” Inspections offer important lessons about achieving success in life, Mikel told the cadets. “One thing in life that you’ll learn, something that is illustrated by the inspection, is attention to detail. That’s one of the first things you learn in the military: If you can focus and complete all the small tasks, the large tasks
See Inspection, Page 2
Navy senior technologist honored with Defense Medal
From NSWC IHEODTD Public Affairs
Chris O’Donnell, a senior technologist at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD), received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service in the Pentagon, Jan. 10. The Executive Secretary of the Warfighter Senior Integration Group, Andrew Hunter, presented O’Donnell the medal, which is the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s highest level career medaled award. O’Donnell, who began his career in 1984 at NSWC IHEODTD, was recognized for his work while on assignment to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistic, as Senior Technical Analyst. The award - signed by
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Frank Kendall - recognized O’Donnell for, “. rapidly facilitating the resolution of joint urgent operational needs from United States commanders in Afghanistan. His direct support to the Executive Secretary of the Warfighter Senior Integration Group greatly helped achieve the Senior Integration Group’s mission of facilitating agile and rapid responses to combatant commander urgent operational requirements.” O’Donnell’s analysis helped lead needed retrograde of U.S. troop equipment in Afghanistan, and his support of the Senior Integration Group helped save lives and ensure mission success for deployed warfighters worldwide. “I am truly humbled to receive this honor, but I couldn’t have achieved it without the experience I gained in supporting the
U.S. Army photo by Mr. Leroy Council
The Executive Secretary of the Warfighter Senior Integration Group, Mr. Andrew Hunter presents the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award to Mr. Christopher O’Donnell during a luncheon and award ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington D.C. on January 10. joint service EOD community,” said O’Donnell. “The contacts I built up over the years and knowledge of a wide range of technologies were critical in quickly identifying solutions and field-
ing critically needed equipment. I’m lucky to have a career doing exactly what I love to do - getting warfighters game-changing capabilities, using rapid acquisition concepts. That’s my passion,
and it is always an exciting challenge. Knowing I helped save lives of both U.S. and Afghan forces makes it very rewarding.” NSWC IHEODTD is a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command and part of the Department of the Navy’s science and engineering enterprise. We are the leader in energetics, energetic materials, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) knowledge, tools, equipment. Our Division focuses on the research, development, test, evaluation, in-service support, and disposal of energetics and energetic systems as well as works to provide Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen worldwide with the information and technological solutions they need to detect/locate, access, identify, render safe, recover/exploit, and dispose of both conventional and unconventional explosive threats.
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS FOR MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES E-mail nsasp_pao_dlgr@navy.mil or Call (540) 653-8153