Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Commander Rear Adm. Katherine Gregory visited NAVFAC facilities in the Southeast region April 1 through 3.

Gregory visited Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay, Georgia, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Naval Station (NS) Mayport, Florida, and NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the trip.

The purpose of the three-day visit was to get a first-hand look at the major projects that each base is working on, discuss issues that each might be experiencing, hold all-hands calls with the public works departments, and meet with leadership, field personnel, support commanders, and the military wardrooms.

She visited a number of project sites, toured the bases and utility production systems, received command briefs and recognized NAVFAC employees for their outstanding contributions to the mission.

Capt. Lore Aguayo, NAVFAC Southeast operations officer accompanied the admiral and talked about the importance of her visit.

"It's important for the admiral to visit each of her commands as well as the public works departments to see NAVFAC personnel executing the products and services and to see how her priorities are being communicated throughout the chain of command," said Aguayo. "It's equally important to solicit feedback from those 'in the trenches' on what is and is not working."

One of the major projects she was briefed on during her visit was the NAS Jacksonville $51 million runway project, due to begin in June. Gregory toured the current runway and was shown the repair work that has been done to keep it operational until the project begins.

The trip was not all meetings and tours; during her stop Gregory recognized a few standouts at each of the installations, presenting several individuals with a coin and taking time to congratulate them for their hard work and dedication encouraging them to keep up the good work.

"Understanding the importance of the hard work each of the NAVFAC, PW and other civilian employees do every day makes a huge difference," Aguayo said. "The admiral recognizes that many of the best ideas come from those in the field, and her visit served as an avenue to hear those ideas and meet the amazing people who turn them into reality."

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