YOKOSUKA, Japan— Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East recognizes its employees and encourages young people to consider an engineering career during National Engineers Week Feb. 22-28.
NAVFAC is a Navy Systems Command that builds and maintains sustainable facilities, delivers utilities and services, and provides Navy expeditionary combat force capabilities.
"National Engineers Week is a great opportunity to recognize the hard-working and capable engineers who contribute to Navy, Marine Corps and other Department of Defense mission success in the Far East," said NAVFAC Far East Commanding Officer Capt. Michelle La Duca. "The military, civilian and host nation engineers here are committed to innovation and providing best-value engineering for our customers and supported commands."
More than 200 NAVFAC Far East engineers support naval activities in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. They work in a variety of engineering disciplines, including environmental, facilities, civil and electrical.
Public Works Department Sasebo supports Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo and the Seventh Fleet in the Pacific. The Project Management and Engineering (PM&E) Branch manages all aspects of Design and Construction to improve facilities for morale, welfare, education, medical and life safety. Apart from the mission critical functions performed in support of our mobile infrastructure, the PM&E Branch is currently working with tenant commands to improve quality of life for families and non-deployed personnel through energy efficiency in retail/office spaces, renewed playgrounds at housing locations, updated medical spaces, and improved parking infrastructure at Hario Housing. The Branch typically produces an average of $12 million in design work and $40 million in construction per year.
A standout engineer is Design Section Head Toshiyuki Tanaka. He continues to lead the branch through the complex engineering challenges including differences between U.S. and Japanese building codes, safety requirements, and fiscal constraints. Through his expert engineering prowess, mentoring, and oversight, the branch continues to grow its technical knowledge and workforce diversity while routinely finding expedient and innovative solutions to complex problems.
The goal of National Engineers Week is to ensure a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce.
Engineers at PWD Sasebo are engaged with community members to show how engineering helps their lives. Environmental Protection Specialist Steve Edlavitch recently led an interactive display during a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) event at Darby elementary school. He taught the students about water chemistry by testing the acidity of drinking water using pH paper and a colorimeter, allowing hands on participation and engagement.
An E.J. King high school student is completing an 18 week internship with the PWD Sasebo Environmental Department. The student gets a first-hand look at how PWD Sasebo supports the installation and families, a valuable experience to propel him into his future studies.