U.S. Fleet Forces Command (FFC) Fleet Master Chief Paul Kingsbury toured labs and facilities at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC), Jan. 21.

MARMC provides maintenance and modernization to ships in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and overseas, ensuring global force readiness.

"This was an opportunity to show the fleet master chief firsthand the capabilities that we provide to the fleet," said MARMC Production Leading Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Machinist Mate Scott Lockhart. "Fleet Forces Command is a large command and even though we here at MARMC live and breathe the daily life as a regional maintenance center, the leadership at Fleet Forces Command has a broad range of responsibilities that extend beyond our reach. We wanted to give the fleet master chief complete exposure to our Sailors, so he could see firsthand how they work."

Kingsbury began his day with a visit to MARMC's front office in building LF-18. There he met MARMC's Executive Officer Capt. Steven Connell and Command Master Chief Timothy Bailey.

The meeting was followed by a tour of MARMC's Building CEP-200 and dive locker. Kingsbury said he wanted to see MARMC Sailors working in their rates and getting the necessary training while on shore duty. He talked to Sailors he met about training, shipboard maintenance and quality of work life.

"I wanted to familiarize myself with MARMC's capabilities and how they support the fleet," said Kingsbury. "From a broader perspective, how effective are they at accomplishing those goals and how is MARMC helping to rebuild that enlisted technical competence knowledge base in the fleet?"

According to Kingsbury, MARMC is a place where Sailors are exposed to higher level maintenance and can hone their skills to take back to sea.

"That is a force multiplier and that's the value I see and why I wanted to come here."

For more news from Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, visit www.navy.mil/.