NAVFAC Hawaii Changes Command

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Capt. Cameron J. Geertsema relieved Capt. James “Gordie”. Meyer as the commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii during a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 16.

Rear Adm. Dean A. VanderLey, commander of NAVFAC Pacific was the keynote speaker.

NAVFAC Hawaii employs 1,400 highly-skilled civilian federal workers and 200 military personnel including Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officers, enlisted Seabees as well as officer and enlisted members of the Air Force 647th Civil Engineer
Squadron. 

“NAVFAC Hawaii is one of our more challenging Facilities Engineering Systems Command,” said VanderLey.

Within a compact footprint, NAVFAC Hawaii is responsible for infrastructure that includes: One of the largest in-house workforces in the NAVFAC enterprise; one of only four public shipyards in the Navy; the homeport for significant
surface and subsurface combatants; a significant Joint Base that includes a major Air Force airfield adjoining an international airport; substantial leased land for training and operations; Marine Corps Base Hawaii; one of the most
critical testing ranges in the DoD, the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF); the largest underground bulk fuel storage facility in the Navy’s inventory; and located in the vicinity of multiple four-star commands.

“I am extremely proud of everything that NAVFAC Hawaii has accomplished under Gordie’s leadership,” said VanderLey. “Gordie has a level of personal sacrifice and engagement greater than any officer I’ve ever seen. He is a
commanding officer that will do whatever it takes, no matter what it takes, and no matter how hard he has to work to do it.”

During Meyer’s leadership, NAVFAC Hawaii brought electrical islanding capability to PMRF, nearly $300 million of construction work in place along with almost $600 million in designs, injury mishaps decreased by 24 percent,
developed and awarded one of the most complex innovative sustainment, restoration, modernization-funded projects (admin facility) in the Navy, completed the transition from Navy Working Capital Fund to General Fund, and support to
Marine Corps Forces Design.

“The most important thing for me is to thank everyone for everything they have done the past two years,” said Meyer. “It has been great being a part of the NAVFAC Hawaii Ohana. It is a bittersweet day with mixed emotions as it is hard
to say goodbye, but I am looking forward to seeing the great things Capt. Geertsema is going to do.”

Meyer will be staying in Hawaii and will serve as the lead for supporting the NAVFAC organization responsible for defueling the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. 

“Welcome aboard to Capt. “Cam” Geertsema,” said VanderLey. “Cam is a truly remarkable officer. Having served closely with him as my deputy commander, he has gained my full trust. I can’t imagine a better officer to take charge
of NAVFAC Hawaii. I am looking forward to the continued success of having both Gordie and Cam working here for NAVFAC Hawaii.”

Geertsema recently held the position of vice commander at NAVFAC Pacific for the past two years. He is a registered engineer in the state of Texas, a certified energy manager, designated a Seabee combat warfare specialist, and a
member of the acquisition professional community (Level III, Facilities Engineer & Contracting).

NAVFAC Hawaii is the Navy’s single touch-point for all facilities engineering products and services in Hawaii. It delivers and maintains quality, sustainable facilities through contracting, engineering, environmental, planning, and public
works services to Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Department of Defense supported commands and other federal agency customers in the state.