JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — In a year marked by essential building projects and new naval challenges, Brian Blancaflor of Officer in Charge of Construction (OICC) Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) has stood out as a leader. He has been named the 2024 Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hard Hat Construction Engineer/Construction Manager of the Year.
Blancaflor’s recognition is part of NAVFAC’s annual Hard Hat Awards Program, which celebrates the hard work and excellence of its engineering and construction teams in construction field offices. Recipients are acknowledged for their readiness, decision-making, teamwork, and leadership in service to NAVFAC.
This award highlights Blancaflor’s key role in significantly supporting Fleet operational availability through his work on the $3.4 billion mega-project at PHNSY, the P-209 Dry Dock 3 Replacement, part of the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP).
Blancaflor’s ability to manage such a large project while keeping high standards and meeting tight deadlines has not only set a new example for the organization but also inspired and motivated the rest of the team.
He handled many urgent requests from contractors to keep the project on track, including reviewing 410 of the 1,469 submittals, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality and efficiency.
“Blancaflor shows true dedication and leadership,” Lt. Ryan Mulligan, a supervisory general engineer with OICC PHNSY. “He helps our team work better and solves problems before they become big issues.”
Blancaflor also established OICC PHNSY’s lift plan review procedure, personally reviewing more than 45 critical lift plans. His careful inspection identified and corrected four concealed errors, which directly averted a long power outage.
To help his team work together, Blancaflor created a SharePoint Online site for a live plan set that incorporates all modifications in real time. This tool ensures the entire team maintains a common picture of construction operations.
Blancaflor’s hard work and smart solutions have created a lasting difference for NAVFAC and the new dry dock being furnished to the Fleet.
“Brian has been a true stand-out and leader within the construction division at OICC PHNSY and the entire P-209 project team,” said Mulligan. “His attention to detail, effectiveness, and bias for action has gained him a ton of respect across the OICC and our contractor team, Dragados/Hawaiian Dredging/Orion JV. We’re fortunate to have him and look forward to his continued success.”