Columbus Day construction ...
During the Oct. 14 (Columbus Day holiday) there will be a lighting contractor working in the area of the NAS Pensacola front gate to replace existing street lights with newer LED fixtures. For safety reasons, there may be lane closures and traffic interruption while the contractor replaces these fixtures. There will be traffic cones and barrels in place and flagmen to direct or stop traffic as necessary while the work is occurring. Outbound traffic flow on Duncan Road may also be altered or stopped during light replacement specifically at the overpass near Bldg. 777. Murray Road can be utilized as an alternate means to exit the base. Drivers are asked to use caution and be patient as they enter and exit the base that day. – From NAS Pensacola Public Works Department, Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division
Vol. 77, No. 41
October is National Energy Awareness Month From NASP PWD
The American government first set aside a time to remind it citizens about saving energy in 1981 with American Energy Week. It was on Sept. 13, 1991, that President George H. W. Bush first proclaimed October as Energy Awareness Month. The Department of the Navy has long been conducting energy awareness campaigns that promote the wise and efficient use of energy. The United States can benefit from the wise use of energy at federal facilities. As the single largest domestic user of energy, the federal government spends more than $9 billion to power its vehicles, operations, and approximately 500,000 facilities throughout the United States. Efficient energy management at federal facilities will: • Save taxpayer dollars. • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. • Protect the environment and natural resources. • Contribute to national security. In addition, regulations like the Energy Policy Act of 2005 require Federal agencies to meet a number of energy and water management goals. With so many major global challenges tied to energy use, including air pollution, climate change, volatile fuel supplies and costs, aging energy infrastructure and reliance on fossil fuels, it is smart to choose energy efficiency as a basic work ethic and lifestyle. During Energy Awareness Month, and throughout the year, all departments must remember that saving energy is an individual priority and focus, and that they can safeguard our energy infrastructure and reduce NASP’s carbon footprint in all that they do through simple choices and attention to energy efficiency.
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
October 11, 2013
CNO, MCPON talk to Sailors for Navy birthday From Defense Media Activity, Navy
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (NNS) – The Chief of Naval Operations and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy took time to share the latest information on government shutdown and other fleet issues with Sailors, Navy civilians and their families Oct. 8, during a worldwide Navy birthday all-hands call at the Defense Media Activity. Pay initiatives, sequestration impacts and uniform updates were among the topics Adm. Jonathan Greenert and MCPON(AW/NAC) Mike Stevens talked about with a live studio audience, as well as Sailors from around the world via satellite and social media. An early question from the live audience pertained to the current evaluation system in the Navy. “I’m generally happy with it (the Navy evaluation system). I would say what we need to do when we think about evaluating people is to be truthful and objective. There is a propensity to kind of make people feel good on evaluations when hard decisions have to be made. We need those decisions to be made at the deck plate level,” said Greenert. The Navy leaders started with the show by reenlisting 16 Sailors with their families and command leadership on hand. Then Sailors from Norfolk, San Diego and Afghanistan were able to ask live video questions via satellite, and Sailors from USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Simpson (FFG 56) phoned in questions while on
See CNO on page 2
NASP readies for Tropical Storm Karen ... There is only one way to turn a tropical storm into a hurricane disaster: by not preparing for it. (Above) NAS Pensacola Port Operations workers remove “Monarch boats” belonging to the Air Force and Navy from NASP pier side Oct. 3. The boats were removed by crane and towed on trailers to the base’s Bayou Grande Marina, where they were chained down for safety during the storm. Karen, projected as a Gulf hurricane, fizzled to a rainstorm by landfall. Photo by Mike O'Connor
Small business awarded $7.3 million for renovations at NASP From NavFac SE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NavFac) Southeast awarded a $7.3 million task order under a multiple award construction contract Sept. 30 to Asset Group Inc., a small business based in Oklahoma City, Okla., for rennovations planned for Bldg. 600, the Navy Gateway Inn and Suites,
at NAS Pensacola. “Bldg. 600 is on the State Historical Register and will be a challenging project incorporating elevators, new windows and doors throughout with all the upgrades of a mid-grade hotel with old style charm,” said Theresa Withee, director of lodging in the Pensacola area. Bldg. 600, built in 1936, is des-
ignated Mustin Hall in honor of Lt. Cmdr. Henry Mustin, who established Naval Aeronautical Station Pensacola, the Navy’s first Naval Aeronautical Station, in 1914. The work will include renovation of the main entry drawing room, kitchen areas, bedrooms and some bathrooms in each suite. It will also include front desk
work areas, break rooms and offices. “Our primary customers are those students and travelers that are on temporary travel orders for school or some business event. We have a wide variety of civilian and military folks staying with us. We want to provide a fine value for our guests,” said Withee.
See NavFac on page 2
NATTC commissions a new LDO Story, photo by Lt. Jonathan Bacon NATTC PAO
Hispanic Heritage Observance at NASP ... NAS Pensacola Command Master Chief CMC Jeff Grosso samples Cuban black beans at the base’s Hispanic Heritage Observance Oct. 4. Photo by Mike O’Connor For story and more photos, see page A5.
AEC Brian VanDeLinder, originally from Westerville, Ohio, an instructor at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), was commissioned as an ensign during a ceremony in NATTC’s Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Crowe Memorial Hangar, onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Sept. 30. For many officers, the commissioning ceremony is simply the start of their career, where they swear their oath of office. For a limited duty officer (LDO), such as VanDeLinder, the commissioning ceremony marks a mid-career transition from being enlisted, to being an officer. VanDeLinder’s transition started with the removal of his chief petty officer anchors from his collar and his chief petty officer cover from his head by AEC Lucas Inman and AEC Michael Bullock. This defrocking
is to signify that VanDelinder is leaving the chief’s mess behind to go to the wardroom. VanDeLinder gave his chief’s anchors to AE1 Thomas Moore and AE1 Joshua Bouge with the expectation that they will wear them once they become chiefs and someday pass them
See New LDO on page 2
NATTC instructor AEC Brian VanDeLinder’s mother and sister apply his new shoulder boards during his commissioning ceremony as an ensign Sept. 30.
Published by Ballinger Publishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute Department of the Navy, NAS Pensacola or Ballinger Publishing’s endorsement of products or services advertised.