Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific (NECCPAC), located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, recently welcomed its new Chief of Staff, Capt. Marc Delao, Civil Engineer Corps (CEC).

Delao previously served as commanding officer of Amphibious Construction Battalion (PHIBCB) 2, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

NECCPAC serves as the Navy's Pacific Expeditionary Type Commander (TYCOM) for Naval Construction, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Mobile Diving and Salvage, and Coastal Riverine Forces, which provide vital organize, man, train, equip, and sustain support to Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces home ported in the 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations (AOR).

"My recent experience has given me great insight and perspective on the challenges and opportunities of providing timely and mission essential logistics, and joint logistics over-the-shore support to combat forces which is a vital aspect of operations in the massive and highly logistics intensive PACFLT AOR," said Delao.

During his command tour at PHIBCB 2, Delao oversaw a Active and Reserve Component (AC/RC) force structure transition.

"I learned a great deal about AC/RC integration, deliberate operational planning, and effective employment of diverse and scaled Adaptive Force Packages to meet the mission -- all key components of NECC/NECCPAC operations," said Delao.

Forces assigned to NECCPAC routinely support operations throughout the Pacific and are currently participating in CARAT, which is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

NECCPAC forces will soon participate in the biennial scheduled Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands and southern California, June 30-August 4. Twenty-seven nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the exercise. RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalions are also supporting a variety of construction projects throughout the Pacific. Many projects provide humanitarian and theater security cooperation. Exercise participation by NECCPAC units in the Pacific region provides unique training opportunities that help build relationships and ensure the safety of sea lanes and security throughout the region.

"This highly critical TYCOM role is fully aligned with the Navy's 'Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority' and serves to enhance combat effectiveness for Navy Expeditionary Forces engaged in the full spectrum of naval, joint, and combined operations supporting Commander, Pacific Fleet and combatant commanders," said Delao.

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