Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest Senior Associate Counsel Van "Paul" Clay was recognized for his legal work at the command from January 2014 to April 2017 with a Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award during an April 26 reception for his retirement.

Clay served as the Acquisition and Real Estate Law Team Lead in the NAVFAC Southwest's Office of Counsel providing legal advice to the command's Capital Improvements, Public Works, and People and Processes contracts groups, the Real Estate Department, and its Asset Management personnel in charge of Public-Private Venture (PPV) Housing.

"Mr Clay was vital to the success of the Navy's Public Private venture (PPV) housing programs, leading all business matters for two Limited Liability Company (LLC) partnerships, the San Diego Family Housing LLC and the first-ever unaccompanied PPV housing project, Pacific Beacon LLC," said CAPT John J. Adametz, NAVFAC Southwest commanding officer, in the citation. "Mr. Clay ensured the team effectively established and structured the LLC's through the exclusive negotiations and commencement phase, initial development periods and portfolio expansion phases to create two of the highest performing PPV projects across the Navy."

NAVFAC Southwest Executive Officer CAPT Tim Liberatore made the presentation of the award to Clay at the reception.

Clay started his federal career as a procurement law attorney with the Army's former Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command in Rock Island, Ill.

He joined NAVFAC in September 1992 as counsel to the Navy Public Works Center (NPWC) Contracts Department. In November 1999, he moved with the NPWC contracts department personnel to NAVFAC Southwest Division in San Diego.

Clay retired after 33 years of federal service.


For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.


For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/.