Mid-Atlantic Region Calibration Center completes turnaround time by four days early

ByTroyMiller

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is currently on its maidenvoyage conductingascheduleddeployment in U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. SixthFleetareaofoperations,demonstratingthe commitmentandpoweroftheNavy’sglobally deployedforce.AswithanydeploymentforU.S. Navyvessels,ittakesamagnitudeofteamwork spreading across multiple entities within the Navy to make sure that ships and submarines areattheirfullpotentialtocarryoutthemission.

“Gerald R. Ford and Virginia class submarines represent significant technological improvements over previous classes of ships, said Mid-Atlantic Region Calibration Center (MARCC) Director Mark Brown. “This increases the complexity of the calibration requirements performed. It requires us to do newworkwithnewermethodsandprocedures on new test equipment, all of which were first inclass.”

When Ford returned from its final workups before deployment, the synergy between MARCC’s 108 Sailors and 48 civilians made it one solid and well performing unit, according toBrown.

“It is a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)goaltohavea14businessdayturnaround time,” said Brown. “MARCC not only

BySidneyHinds Naval Medical Research Command

SILVER SPRING, Md Naval Medical ResearchCommand(NMRC)heldachange of command ceremony in the Daniel K. Inouye building on the Forest Glen Annex on11Aug.

Capt. William Deniston was relieved as commander,NMRC,byCapt.FrancaJones in an official ceremony in front of distinguished guests family friends and shipmates Special guests included Rear Adm. GuidoF.Valdes,commander,NavalMedical Forces Pacific, who presided over the ceremony.

“Leadingaresearchcommandsuchasthis onedemandsexceptionalcommitmentanda deepunderstandingofourmilitary’sunique challenges,” Valdes remarked, “Medical researchiscriticaltothesuccessofthefleet and marine force enhances the ability to meet operational readiness requirements, andfostersnewopportunitiestosucceedas bothhealthcareprovidersandwarfighters.”

DenistonwelcomedJones,whohadpreviouslyservedasexecutiveofficerforNMRC, backtothecommandandexpressedenthusiasmforhertenureascommander Healso remarkeduponthemanychallengesNMRC hasovercome andthecommand’ssuccessin morecloselyaligningtotheline.

“Therehavebeensomemajorshiftsinthe past two years, but we in the Naval Medical ResearchandDevelopmententerprisehave maintainedtheabilitytosupportourselves,” Denistonsaid.

Deniston’s tenure as NMRC commander saw an increase in headquarters support fortheenterprisecommands anexpansion of the enterprise presence in media and at internationalconferences,andanalignment to the Naval warfighter through operationally oriented research and medical surveillance

“We have an incredibly important mission,”Jonesadded,inherownremarks, “to field medical solutions to the fleet and MarineCorpsforexpeditionaryoperations in all domains undersea, on land in the air, and in space As an enterprise we can accomplishthismissionbetterthananyone command.”

Jones previously served as commanding officer for U.S. Naval Medical Research met that goal, but surpassed it by having all of the Ford’s high priority jobs completed in approximatelytendays,fourdaysearly.Weare the largest calibration center in the U.S. Navy and yet feedback has been that NNSY has the overallfastestturnaroundtimebetweenallfour shipyards.

MARCC’s General Purpose Electronic Test EquipmentShop,(Shop256)ElectronicsTechnician Second Class Evan Hurley added, “We all have our own specialty that we are good at We use each other’s talents and gifts to work togethertoknockoutthejobsontimeandright thefirsttime sonotimeiswastedonrework.”

MARCC has a first time rate of 96 percent. In October 2022 the first time rate was at 92 percent.Withavolumeofapproximately40,000 individualcalibrationsMARCCworksoneach year,fourpercentissignificant Whatdidittake toimprovethefirsttimerate?

“MARCC’sDeputyDirector,Lt Cmdr Julian Wilson, MARCC’s Senior Enlisted Advisor, Senior Chief Electronics Technician Francis Medina and myself know we do not have all theanswers,”saidBrown.“Ourgoalistomake well thought, data driven directions. To help achievethis wewenttoourteamfromthemost seniorciviliantothelowestrankingSailorand we listened to what they had to say on how to increaseourefficiency,qualityandturnaround time Wetookthosesuggestionsforactionand theresultswerephenomenal.”

Brown continued, “We ensured that every civilianandSailorhasabuyin.Wehandedthem ownership and they took it for action at full speed Wetakerisksasateam wefailasateam welearnfromourfailuresasateam andbecause ofthis,weaccomplishgreatthingsasateam.”

Mid-Atlantic Region Calibration Center is currentlyhiring.Ifthissoundslikeateamyou wanttobeapartof,gotohttps://www.navsea. navy.mil/Home/Shipyards/Norfolk/Careers aspxformoreinformation.

SILVERSPRING,Md.(Aug 11,2023) Capt.FrancaJones speaks at Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC)’s change ofcommand ceremony.The ceremony,presided overbyRear Adm.GuidoValdes,commander,Naval Medical Forces Pacific,sawCapt.William Deniston relieved as commander, NMRC byJones.NMRC leads the Naval Medical Research and Design enterprise,eight commands throughout the globewhich focus on readiness through research and development in support ofthe Navy Marine Corps and joint U.S.warfighters.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYTOMMYLAMKIN/RELEASED)

Unit(NAMRU)SOUTH,anothercommand withtheenterprise Underherdirection,the command continued surveillance activities and outbreak support for diseases such as avianinfluenza,H1N1influenzaanddengue fever. Additionally, NAMRU SOUTH experts assisted Peruvian and other partner region militaries through educational sessions during Continuing Promise 2022 activitiesinHondurasandtheDefenseInstitute for Medical Operations course held in Limain2023

“Capt. Deniston has established a great foundationforourfuture,”Jonessaid.“Iask allofyoutojoinmeinbuildingonthatfoundation to guarantee the success of NMRC and the enterprise in supporting the Navy andNavyMedicine.”

Formerly known as Naval Medical Research Center, NMRC supports the Navy,MarineCorpsandjointU.S.warfighters through research of infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense combatcasualtycare environmentalhealth concerns,aerospaceandunderseamedicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology and behavioralsciences

Theenterprise,ledbyNMRC,isengaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in the laboratory to field studies in austere and remote areas of the world to investigationsinoperationalenvironments In support of the Navy, Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectiousdiseases,biologicalwarfaredetectionanddefense combatcasualtycare,environmental health concerns aerospace and undersea medicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology,andbehavioralsciences