WASHINGTON — One team and three individuals from Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) were among the winners who received awards in the annual NAVSEA Excellence Awards ceremony at Washington Navy Yard on Aug. 14.
The winners include:
Excellence in Command Support
Individual award: Lewis A. Moser, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Team award: Code 800 Supply Logistics Team, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Excellence in Engineering
Individual award: John A. Bock, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Excellence in Ship Maintenance
Individual award: Burton M. Kuntz Jr., Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
They were selected from top-performing personnel and nominated by leadership and peers for their contributions during the period of performance beginning 1 Oct. 2022 to 30 Sept. 2023. The nominations reflect “best practice” models in their respective award category and nomination type.
“These award winners represent the very best of the maintenance community and we’re fortunate that they are here at SWRMC,” said Capt. Brian Karosich, SWRMC’s commanding officer.
SWRMC’s Code 800 Supply Logistics Team received the Excellence in Command Support award for creating a new regional maintenance center mission function with minimal resources. Nominated members were: DC3 Manuel Borjas, EM1 Lingdi Cai, GSM2 Osiris Chavero, EN2 Chris Donasco, EN2 Lorenzo Espinoza, DC3 Arthur Granillo, Jose Gutierrez, GSM1 Jennifer Lllarina, Kelly Mendoza, FC2 Jonathan Ortega, Kyoshi Peagler, FC3 Michael Sharp, James Stewart, DC1 Stephen Williams, and DC3 Kara Young and Supervisor Marcos Santos.
Achievements included establishing a material procurement contract for two deployable mobile logistics support trailers; creating an inventory for mission support materials (MSM); preparing and certifying HAZMAT lockers for expeditionary maintenance teams to easily pick up hazardous materials; developing tool cages and a tool issue program; and the management of an estimated $5M in government furnished materials.
With shifting ship schedules complicating logistical support, the team completed their tasks with zero discrepancies or dropped availabilities.
“Winning this award is a validation of all the hard work we put in to set up this function,” said Santos. “It’s also a great morale booster for our group. Now we are ready to achieve more.”
Management Analyst Lewis Moser won the individual award category for improving and standardizing logistics processes across the regional maintenance centers.
In specific examples cited in the nomination, Lewis supported the Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center detachment in Bahrain and the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Yokosuka. In Bahrain, he provided logistical support training, helping them to meet demands and improve on-time delivery of ships. In Japan, he provided support for a new shipyard material management system.
In the Excellence in Engineering category, Lead Engineering Technician John Bock was selected for his outstanding service as the lead steam and propulsion subject matter expert in supporting steam propulsion and auxiliary system work during USS Boxer’s (LHD 4) availability in FY23.
Branch Head Burton Kuntz Jr. was recognized for leading a project team through a 452-day drydocking project with USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54). The availability finished with zero maintenance delays thanks to his innovative approach to the project of integrated project schedule (IPS) management, respect for team members, and presence on the ship. IPS provided a proactive mindset to allow stakeholders to make decisions early in an effort to minimize probability of missing a key event or milestone date. His emphasis on respect focused on treating all stakeholders as partners, which cleared pathways and enabled common alignment. Lastly, all stakeholders spent 70% of their time on the deck plate during the project.
The winners were announced in a NAVSEA memo from June 12.
SWRMC provides superior ship maintenance and modernization, technical support, training, and innovative solutions to support ship readiness for the Fleet.
For more information on SWRMC, please visit https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/RMC/SWRMC.