Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) hosted graduation for the first Cadre of their Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) Program on July 30. 

The LEAD Program is a leadership development opportunity designed by the Training and Workforce Development division for SWRMC employees in entry to mid-level, non-supervisory positions. The program’s objective is to prepare employees for future leadership opportunities at SWRMC and other Department of the Navy (DON) agencies.

“This leadership program aligns with the goals of Vice Adm. Thomas Moore’s, Commander, Naval Sea System Command, Campaign Plan 2.0 to Expand the Advantage,” said Capt. David Hart, SWRMC’s commanding officer. “We are ‘empowering and equipping our talented people to be an engaged workforce committed to the Navy core attributes of Integrity, Accountability, Initiative, and Toughness together with the needed leadership skills to accomplish the mission.’”

The curriculum spans six months and students participate in many command level initiatives including networking, High Velocity Learning (HVL) and process improvement training, job shadowing with executive leadership, and a Capstone Project. Courses on change management, emotional intelligence, managing projects, and effective writing and speaking are also part of the program.  

“I highly recommend the LEAD Program,” said Anabel Caiazzo, a Controller from SWRMC’s Production Department who enrolled in the program to network with fellow employees while building her leadership skills.  “The major key takeaways for me are to lead by example and that great leaders are willing to accept both the positive and negative consequences of the bold choices they make.”

According to George Christensen, Training and Workforce Development Training Manager, the Capstone Project is the culmination of 6-months of hard work and gives students an opportunity to present communication, development and morale improvement ideas as future leaders of SWRMC.

“The Capstone Project is a real-time assignment,” Christensen explained. “Students work in teams to produce a process-improvement plan by the end of the program which will make SWRMC a better place to work.”

Christensen added that many of the Capstone projects have already resulted in process improvements at SWRMC and with the start of the LEAD Program’s Cadre II on July 25, he is looking forward to another wave of improvement ideas in December.

“Through offering courses such as the LEAD Program, SWRMC is building and developing employees to succeed in the most challenging of situations by increasing their ability to respond quickly and effectively in a variety of work environments,” Hart said.  “I am very proud of these LEAD Program Graduates who exemplify why SWRMC is and will continue to be an organization the Navy can depend on.”

SWRMC is meeting its mission to provide superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training for the Pacific Fleet.

For more information on SWRMC please visit https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/RMC/SWRMC.

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