Capt. Mark Edelson succeeded Capt. John J. Adametz as commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest Sept. 6 in a change of command ceremony held aboard the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.

The official party included guest speaker NAVFAC Atlantic Commander Rear Adm. Darius Banaji, Navy Region Southwest Commander Rear Adm. Yancy B. Lindsey, and U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Chad McClain giving the invocation and benediction.

"I learned the facility business in the Southwest and it is a personal and professional pleasure to return to San Diego to carry-on that responsibility and once again serve with the men and women of NAVFAC," said Edelson, during remarks at the ceremony.

Edelson became the eight commanding officer of NAVFAC Southwest since its establishment in August 2005 after the disestablishment of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Division and Navy Public Works Center (PWC) San Diego.

Edelson graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, a history minor, and a commission through ROTC. He attended graduate school in 1998, receiving a Master of Science in civil engineering (construction management) from Stanford University.

He is a registered civil engineer in Virginia, a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps, and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (seven awards), the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards); he is a Seabee Combat Warfare qualified officer.

"NAVFAC Southwest has always been willing to learn from the past and try something different - to look at the data and challenge conventional thinking," said Edelson. "The Navy needs that spirit, that commitment to excellence, now more than ever."

Adametz commanded NAVFAC Southwest from August 2015 to September 2017. He is departing NAVFAC Southwest to become the commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center in Port Hueneme, Calif.

"It has been my true honor and pleasure to serve with the team at NAVFAC Southwest," said Adametz. "To witness the amazing things they have done in support of our Navy and Marine Corps for the last two years is just absolutely phenomenal."

Adametz is a native of Belle Vernon, Pa. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1989 with a degree in mechanical engineering and was commissioned an Ensign in the Surface Warfare community. He received a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1997.

He is qualified as a Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, Surface Warfare Officer, and Fleet Marine Force Officer. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a Project Management Professional, Certified Facility Manager, Certified Energy Manager, a member of the Navy Acquisition Professional Community and Society of American Military Engineers.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit awards.

The more than 3,100 personnel of NAVFAC Southwest manage and execute an annual volume of work in excess of $2 billion in support of our clients with services in planning, design, construction, real estate, environmental and public works support for U. S. Navy shore facilities, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and other federal agencies in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.


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