Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) hosted Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Readiness) Daniel P. Feehan and accompanying staff members, Nov. 5, in San Diego.

The purpose of the visit was to provide Feehan with valued observations and situational awareness of ship maintenance and fleet training opportunities at SWRMC.

"Every day I deal with readiness recovery," said Feehan. "I want to understand the challenges here and where to go next."

Capt. Hugh J. Huck III, SWRMC commanding officer, provided an overview of SWRMC and shared several success stories and challenges the organization faces when executing ship maintenance and training Sailors.

Among the success stories shared was the execution of the Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy Program (NAMTS) at SWRMC. The program allows participating Sailors to earn one of 11 Navy Enlisted Classifications (NECs) upon completion of the program. Those Sailors then return to the fleet with even greater knowledge of their rate, as well as the equipment they operate and maintain.

Huck also engaged in extensive dialogue regarding the SWRMC Engineering Department, which provides fleet technical assistance to ships anywhere in the world, delivers engineering support, and executes assessments on fleet assets.

Following the command overview brief, SWRMC Production Department Head John Robinson led a tour of SWMRC's Engine Product family. During the tour Robinson introduced Feehan to shop subject matter experts, who engaged Feehan in dialogue regarding their areas of expertise.

Feehan was able to see firsthand how the shops conducted maintenance using a mixed workforce of Sailors, civilians, and contractors. Robinson also exposed Feehan and his team to innovations the shop has implemented into their product lines, such as the SWRMC flight deck net assembly, which services Navy organizations throughout the U.S.

"Our belief is that you have to do right by the fleet," said Huck, speaking on the quality work SWRMC aims to provide its customers. "Because if you don't, they will find out at the worst possible time."

SWRMC's mission is to provide superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training to the Pacific fleet.

For more information on SWRMC please visit http://www.swrmc.navy.mil/.