July 10 Luncheon Speaker Captain Charles Baker
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Volume 65, Issue 07 July 2012 CORPORATE SPONSORS July 10 Luncheon Speaker ó Vigor Shipyards Captain Charles Baker ó Concurrent Technologies Corp aptain Baker is one of our favorite C people and we have hoped to have COMMUNITY AFFILIATES him share his stories with us for a long time. Captain Baker is the Commanding ó Air Management Solutions Officer of Naval Intermediate ó AMI International Maintenance Facility Pacific Northwest ó Concurrent Technologies Corp (NAVIMFPACNORWEST) at Bangor. ó EJB Facilities Services This 1700 person command is responsible for the maintenance and modernization ó Evergreen Transfer & Storage of the Pacific Fleet’s SSBN force. ó First Command Financial The Bangor site operates refit, piers, Planning, Inc. repair shops and a drydock located in ó FMA Chapter 14 the homeports of submarines, ships, and ó Kitsap Sun aircraft carriers in the Pacific Northwest. ó Land Title Company Bangor has expertise in hull, mechanical, electrical, electronics, and weapons on the USS MCKEE (AS 41), USS SIMON ó Military Air Cargo systems repair: continually responding LAKE (AS 37), USS EMORY LAND (AS ó National Center for Manufacturing to meet the fleet’s maintenance and 39) and as Chief Engineer on the USS Sciences repair needs with on-time, cost-effective Nimitz (CVN 68). He has had ashore ó Navy Federal Credit Union and quality service. responsibilities in Groton, Connecticut, ó Pacific NW Defense Coalition Below is a bit of information about Point Loma in San Diego, California and Captain Baker and how his previous Guantanamo, Cuba. ó Patriots Landing assignments and training have helped to Captain Baker is authorized to wear ó Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems make him successful now. the Meritorious Service Medal (4), ó Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort Captain Baker enlisted in the Navy Navy Commendation Medal (4), the ó TriWest Healthcare Alliance in 1976 and completed Naval Nuclear Navy Achievement Medal and various ó Veterans United Home Loans Power training in 1978. While enlisted individual unit and service awards. He he completed sea tours on USS THOMAS earned a Master’s Degree in International ó Wave Broadband JEFFERSON (SSBN 618) and the USS Business from University of San Diego, LONG BEACH (CGN 9). Ashore he California in 2004. NEW MEMBERS was an instructor at the Nuclear Power For luncheon reservations for Training Unit, Idaho Falls, Idaho. He Tuesday, July 10, please email Roni Lane ó Jon Jordan was commissioned in 1987. at [email protected] or call 360 692-3856 at ó Sharon Jordan As a commissioned officer, he served ext 7002. ó Barry Loonan ó Heather Medema Contact Roni Lane, Veterans United Home Loans ó Jammahl Sims ó Michael Talpa for lunch reservations. Email [email protected] ó Tonya Taylor or call 360-692-3856 x 7002 (see page 2) NOW HEAR THIS online: http://brem-olympic.nlus.us 1 President’s Message Notes on SEALS t our recent need to perform their duties, and the from Jack James, A r e g i o n a l types of schooling that they take on a meeting in Portland regular basis. Our tours and monthly former SEAL and luncheons are a perfect opportunity for we were asked accomplishing this objective. Speaker at our how Navy League We can keep current regarding could help the large legislation on certification issues, May Luncheon number of returning veterans find jobs. educational opportunities, veteran r. James asked that the Ken Sparks and Pete Stiles of Lake preference issues and the many other following information be Washington Council presented enough issues that are being discussed by having M information for us to realize that there our legislators or their aides talk with our passed on to our members. are no easy answers to a very complex members and provide us with material challenge. But this challenge demands to share or by attending meetings and 1. There are no Active Duty our attention as thousands of men and then sharing those discussions with our SEALS stationed at any of our local women will soon be leaving the military members. Installations. However Teams do because of the drawdown and looking for We can share the great articles found deploy here to train fairly routinely. new employment. We need to consider in Seapower magazine with neighbors how we can help. and friends. We can share these ideas Additionally, there is a Naval Special As members of Navy League, we can with the other organizations to which we Warfare (SEAL) cold weather training help tell the story of our active duty belong and develop a strong ripple effect detachment in Kodiak, Alaska. people and their families. that can make a real difference. We can help educate potential The above ideas are part of our employers about what people in today’s mission statement and goals. The good 2. In regards to the issue of military are really doing. As they news is that we are already doing them, “stolen valor” if anyone would like develop excellent leadership skills in but now we need to be more focused on a name check on a BUD/S training diverse environments. We can show delivering the message that our current graduate, please call or e-mail them the types of complex equipment military are strong, well trained and will that they maintain and operate, the be an asset to the workforce and the local Jack James at 360 315-5991 or types of communication skills that they community. [email protected]. PSNS and IMF Background Keeping America’s Navy #1 in the World he history of the Puget Sound Naval era of new construction with the building solidated into one maintenance activity- T Shipyard and the Intermediate of a new class of guided missile frigates. creating PSNS and IMF. The consolida- Maintenance Facility reflects the USS SCULPIN (SSN 590) was the first tion improves fleet readiness by allowing constantly changing need for global nuclear powered submarine worked on at the Navy to accomplish the highest prior- readiness. During World War I, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1965. ity, real-time ship maintenance require- ments while achieving the most mainte- Navy Yard constructed ships, including In 1990, the U.S. Navy authorized a program to recycle nuclear powered nance effort possible for the tax dollar. 25 subchasers, seven submarines, two ships at PSNS. Approximately 6% of the The Northwest Regional Maintenance minesweepers, seven sea-going tugs, Shipyard’s workload involves inactiva- Center as it is now called, is one of the few and two ammunition ships, as well as tion, reactor compartment disposal, and regions that can provide maintenance 1,700 small boats. During WWII, the recycling of ships. The Shipyard has pio- for every class of Navy Vessel. The shar- Shipyard’s primary effort was the quick neered an environmentally safe method ing of expertise and resources between repair of battle damage to ships of the of deactivating and recycling nuclear- the Bremerton and Bangor sites provides U.S. Fleet and those of the Allies. powered ships. This process places the the Navy with a streamlined approach to Following WWII, the Shipyard U.S. Navy in the role of being the world’s maintenance and allows for the savings to engaged in an extensive program of mod- only organization to design, build, oper- be reinvested in the fleet. ernizing carriers, including converting ate, and recycle nuclear powered ships. PSNS and IMF is one of Washington conventional flight decks to angle decks. On May 15, 2003 Puget Sound Naval State’s largest industrial installations. During the Korean Conflict, the Shipyard Shipyard and the Naval Intermediate This information is primarily from was engaged in the activation of ships. In Facility, Pacific Northwest, located at the website of the Naval Sea Systems the late 1950’s, the Shipyard entered an Bangor, Bremerton and Everett, WA con- Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 2 NOW HEAR THIS online: http://brem-olympic.nlus.us Cmdr Erik Neal Receives “Disability Champion” Award for Work with Wounded Warriors mdr. Erik Neal, Chief Staff C Officer, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport, was recognized as a Disability Champion at the 2012 Disability Matters Awards in Newark, N.J., April 18. Neal has been a stand-out in the Navy community for his groundbreak- ing work helping dozens of Wounded Warriors find employment at NUWC Keyport and other Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) commands. This has been beneficial not only for Wounded War- riors and their families but for the commands that hire former military personnel who bring their experience, knowledge and commitment to the federal workplace. In his letter of recommendation discharged. Among those he credits eases their transitions to civilian life,” endorsing Neal’s selection, Vice Adm. with the success of NUWC Keyport’s said Lt. Col. Jason Wing, commander, Kevin McCoy, Commander, NAVSEA, efforts and believes are equally deserv- Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Warrior pointed out that Neal not only helps ing of the award are Carol Blakeley Transition Battalion. “With a major- find employment for Wounded War- with the region’s Human Resources ity of our ill, injured and wounded sol- riors but even volunteered at the Service Center and Carlos de la Torre diers leaving the Army, his support in Second Annual Warrior Games held at with NUWC Keyport’s Workforce Ser- making their transitions successful is the Olympic Training Center in Colo- vices Division. invaluable.” rado last May. “Helping Wounded Warriors find This is the first year that the Dis- “His enthusiasm for Wounded career opportunities is the least we can ability Champion award has been Warriors is contagious and he has do for our seriously wounded, ill and given.