Navy Region Southeast recently appointed Cherine Fleurant as the new Region and command ombudsman.

"We have selected the right person for the job," said Rear Adm. Mary Jackson, commander, Navy Region Southeast. "Mrs. Fleurant has a wealth of knowledge in the human services arena and has previously served as a command ombudsman. We are very fortunate to have such amazing volunteers, and Mrs. Fleurant will be a great addition to our team. All of our installation ombudsmen and tenant command ombudsmen in our region can look forward to her positive engagement and counsel."

Keeping families informed about their Sailors' commands is a vital role that Navy ombudsmen fill.

The ombudsman program began in 1970 when former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt Jr. realized communication between commands and the families of Sailors needed to be improved. In 2006, CNO Adm. Michael Mullen updated the instruction and made a
requirement that all Navy families have access to an ombudsman. Fleet, force and region commanders appoint an ombudsman for their staff, who can advise the commander on fleet, force and region-wide matters.
"As a person in the field of human services, I love the connection you have when you meet people," Fleurant said. "When I help someone sort out something they need to know, it's very rewarding. I like that part."

Fleurant is a native of Marchand Dessalines, Haiti, and has been working in the human services field since 1991, assisting families with children and improving their quality of life. She has been married to Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Paolo Fleurant since August 1998. She served as the Security Detachment command ombudsman, as well as the base spouse coordinator and chairman of volunteers with the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society while with her husband at Naval Base Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

As an ombudsman, Fleurant serves as the link between command leadership and NRSE families at both the command and Region levels. She circulates information from throughout the chain of command to Sailors' families, keeping them informed about command information, local quality of life improvement opportunities, and command climate issues.

"I would like to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to serve in the capacity of the ombudsman," Fleurant said. "I'm looking forward to meeting different people and I'm looking forward to learning more."

The selection process can be long and arduous, but selecting Mrs. Fleurant was easy due to her qualifications, according to Dianne Parker, the Region's Navy Family Ombudsman Program coordinator.

"We encourage commands to put the word out prior to losing the ombudsman so people can start thinking about becoming an ombudsman," Parker said. "They usually send out a notice to the command stating the requirements for becoming an ombudsman and asking people to submit resumes. At that stage, whoever the point of contact is, such as the command master chief here at our command, will look at the resumes and the needs of the command. Those that appear best suited will be brought in for an interview."

The new ombudsman must meet training requirements prior to the final announcement of their selection.

"It's a good program," Parker said. "It's important and you've got to make sure they have the leadership skills to be in that role. From everything I've seen about Mrs. Fleurant, they've made a great choice."

An ombudsman is a volunteer and usually the spouse of a service member attached to the command. Those who wish to apply for the position would do so when the command advertises for volunteers, or one can apply to be on a standby list for upcoming consideration when a position becomes vacant. Once selected to serve as ombudsman, the appointment is made in writing by the commanding officer.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/.