YOKOSUKA, Japan— Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East announced its 2015 Engineers of the Year Nov. 7.
Commanding Officer Michelle LaDuca congratulated Military Engineer of the Year Lt. Cmdr. Nathaniel Herron, Civil Service Engineer of the Year Roosevelt Sanders and Host Nation Engineer of the Year Hitoshi Tsukada for their selection.
“We are very fortunate to have these and many other experienced and talented engineers across our NAVFAC Far East organization,” said LaDuca. “Extending north to Misawa, and more than 8,000 kilometers south to Diego Garcia, our engineers are true professionals planning, designing, executing and maintaining Department of Defense facilities. Our awardees this year delivered infrastructure solutions to our many supported commands and epitomize the professionalism and Can-Do spirit that is the foundation of our workforce.”
The Military and Civil Service Engineers of the Year have been forwarded and considered for the NAVFAC Headquarters Engineers of the Year awards. Those selections are additionally forwarded to the National Society of Professional Engineers to compete for the Federal Engineer of the Year Award presented in February 2015.
Herron is the Facility Engineering Acquisition and Design (FEAD) Director at Public Works Department Diego Garcia. He has recently managed design and construction of more than $80 million in capital improvements, including a water treatment plant, a pier repairs and a coastal rock revetment project.
Being nominated by my peers as Military Engineer of Year for NAVFAC Far East is truly an honor,” said Herron. “I recognize that I am merely the point man in the FEAD department of Diego Garcia. [Others here] develop the solutions to facility challenges and produce and execute the project packages which complete the mission of NAVFAC. It is their service to our Nation and their sacrifice in being away from their families that ensures this strategic island in the Indian Ocean maintains mission readiness for contingency operations.”
Sanders is a construction manager at FEAD Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan. He has provided leadership for 105 construction projects there, valued at more than $60 million. One of his projects, a Child Development Center at Camp Foster, Okinawa, achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
“This Award means a lot to me! I do not see it as a representation of an individual effort but as result of all of the efforts and support of those around me and how we have consistently worked together as a team to accomplish the mission,” said Sanders. “I feel rewarded by being part of the FEAD Camp Butler family that consistently takes challenges and obstacles and finds ways to turn them into success.”
Tsukada is the civil and structural branch head of the Capital Improvements Core Execution Team for NAVFAC Far East. He developed the Seismic Analysis Policy for Navy facilities in Japan. He also performed structural design for major projects including Navy Pier White Beach, Okinawa.
“I am very honored to receive this award and am most grateful to the command for recognizing my work,” said Tsukada. “I could not have done this without the support of my bosses and team members. I greatly appreciate my bosses and team members, and I will continue to work with diligence and look forward to future challenges.”
NAVFAC Far East employs 40 Civil Engineer Corps officers and 163 civilian engineers from the United States and the host nations where it operates.