Growing up in the outskirts of Philadelphia, following the city’s professional sports teams was a core passion for Chief Engineman Zachary Marvain. 

So when it came time to reenlist in the world’s greatest Navy – the Surface Warfare Officer School Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes’ instructor decided to pick one of the city’s coolest sports venues – center ice at the Wells Fargo Center.

“I was fortunate to have Admiral Greenert, then Chief of Naval Operations, administered my first reenlistment and I wanted to do something really special for the second time around,” said Marvain.  In response, the 11-year veteran, loaded up his family and drove 800 miles from Naval Station Great Lakes to the Flyer’s home in South Philly.

On a snowy windswept mid-November day, the Marvain’s were met at the door by the Flyers Community Relations team and escorted through the bowels of this sprawling facility to the lower floor for entry into the rink.  Even a non-sports enthusiast could feel the aura of 22 years of hockey and basketball history standing on center ice encircled by 19,500 seats.

Marvain joined the Navy in 2007 and served tours aboard the USS Vella Gulf and USS Mahan. He transferred to SWOSU Great Lakes in 2017, where he is one of the lead instructors for several courses.   According to his boss, Commanding Officer Cmdr. Terrance Patterson, Marvain is a top sailor.  “He is a superstar; He applied to be a mustang,” he said.  “He is a fire and forget leader who gets the job done.”  At the school Marvain teaches the Senior Auxiliary Engineering Course, as well as 15 other associated courses of instruction.

Back on center ice with the oath ending in, “So help me God,” Marvain and his family took a moment to soak it all in before their trek back to Great Lakes and at least six more years in the Navy. “My first birthday cake was Big Bird and the Flyers,” said Marvain. “This is a dream come true for me and my family.”

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