Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic graduated 30 employees from its 2018 Emerging Leader Program (ELP) class, Oct. 26, during a ceremony on board Naval Station Norfolk.

ELP is a competitive NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Leadership Development Program designed to develop future leaders. This class of General Schedule and Federal Wage System pay plan employees from across the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic area of responsibility, complete valuable self-assessments, experiential learning activities, and a personalized leadership development plan. The six-month program focuses on developing the leadership skills of the class participants through training and developmental experiences.

Linda Wilkinson, a human resources specialist in the Total Force Development Division of NAVFAC Atlantic and program manager for the Mid-Atlantic ELP, said she witnessed the cadre, from various geographical locations, evolve into one cohesive, unit-strengthening NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic team.

“It has been a joy watching the personal and professional growth of each of these students that transpired during the six-month program,” she said. “This program gave these students the tools to take the first step and NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic will reap the benefits of this initial investment for years to come.”

ELP began at NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic in 2010 and was designed to help motivated employees take the next step in their careers. The three one-week, 40-hour sessions are held in a classroom setting, with the students performing various assignments on their own to complete the rest of the program.

One of those graduates is Utility Systems Repair Operator David Fox of the Public Works Business Line in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, who found the program gave him a chance to network with other members, as well as learn more about himself.

“Understanding yourself will help you understand others,” he said. “Our instructors really gave an educational course to help us decipher conflicts, the use of proper emotions when dealing with obstacles in the workplace, and guiding us on to bettering ourselves mind, body and spirit. I highly recommend this course to everyone.”

The 30 NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic graduates for this year’s program are: Eric Barriault, Norfolk; Boaz Brothers, Oceana, Virginia; Brian Cassity, Great Lakes, Illinois; Owen Coulombe, Newport, Rhode Island; David Fox, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Marvin Grevich, Kittery, Maine; Robert Hammond, Norfolk; Michael Hernandez, Portsmouth, Virginia; Brian Jerlin, Portsmouth, Virginia; Darius Jordan, Norfolk; Taj Kyle, Norfolk; Donald Leahey, Norfolk, Virginia; Robert Lemar, Great Lakes, Illinois; Frank Martinez, Great Lakes, Illinois; Valeria Oyler, Little Creek, Virginia; Christian Porter, New London, Connecticut; Kenneth Rogers, Norfolk; Michael Sage, Philadelphia; Chad Shock, Crane, Indiana; David Snow, Great Lakes, Illinois; Michael Taylor, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Michael Underhill, Norfolk; Lizbeth Walker, Great Lakes, Illinois; Monte White, Crane, Indiana; Daron Williams, Norfolk; Jacquard Wilson, Little Creek, Virginia; Danny Wilson, Crane, Indiana; Christopher Wolf, Great Lakes, Illinois; Shirley Wool, Norfolk; and Matthew Worsley, Little Creek, Virginia.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic is the Systems Command that delivers and maintains quality, sustainable facilities, acquires and manages capabilities for the Navy's expeditionary combat forces, provides contingency engineering response, and enables energy security and environmental stewardship across an area of responsibility that spans from Georgia to Maine and as far west as Illinois. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region's facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

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