With a full classroom of 30 General Schedule and Federal Wage System pay plan participants from across the NAVAC Mid-Atlantic area of responsibility, Crowder spoke of ELP and its importance to not just the program participants individually, but to the command as a whole.

"ELP is an illustration of our commitment to our personnel and then leveraging that commitment to make a better organization," he said. "It's what we said we would do, it's what we said we are about."

ELP is a NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Leadership Development Program designed to develop future leaders. Those selected for the program complete valuable self-assessments, experiential learning activities, and a personalized leadership development plan. This six-month program focuses on developing the leadership skills of the class participants through training and developmental experiences. Other key aspects of the program include:

* Self-assessment instruments (i.e., Myers-Briggs, Leadership)
* Three one-week residential classroom sessions
* Personalized leadership development action plans
* Learning teams and team projects
* Experiential learning activities
* Management readings/interaction
* Feedback and coaching.

"We are hopeful you will find the information and techniques introduced in the program beneficial as you work to sharpen your leadership ability and skills," he said. "The program is designed to give you greater awareness of the things that drive and motivate yourself and others."

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 onboard Naval Station Norfolk, with the students performing various assignments on their own to complete the rest of the program.

"It has been said, 'if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you,'" Crowder added. "I encourage you all to make the most of this opportunity to learn about yourself and about leadership."

The 30 NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic employees selected for this year's program are: Eric Barriault, Norfolk, Virginia; 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, Virginia; Michael Hernandez, Portsmouth, Virginia; Brian Jerlin, Portsmouth, Virginia; Darius Jordan, Norfolk, Virginia; Taj Kyle, Norfolk, Virginia; 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, Virginia; Jiovany Romero, Norfolk, Virginia; Michael Sage, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chad Shock, Crane, Indiana; David Snow, Great Lakes, Illinois; Michael Taylor, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Michael Underhill, Norfolk, Virginia; Lizbeth Walker, Great Lakes, Illinois; Monte White, Crane, Indiana; Daron Williams, Norfolk, Virginia; Jacquard Wilson, Little Creek, Virginia; Danny Wilson, Crane, Indiana; Christopher Wolf, Great Lakes, Illinois; Shirley Wool, Norfolk, Virginia; and Matthew Worsley, Little Creek, Virginia.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from Georgia to Maine and as far west as Indiana. 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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For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/.