MSCEURAF and TF Six Three Staff Members Recognized for Achievements

By Kim E. Dixon, MSCEURAF Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (June 27, 2012) Four members of the combined Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF) and Task Force Six Three (TF 63) command were recognized recently for outstanding accomplishments in their respective communities. Pete Lewis, MSCEURAF director, anti-terrorism / force protection (AT/FP), was named the winner of the Military Sealift Command 2012 Griff Hume Anti-terrorism Award, Program Manager Ashore category. Lt. Cmdr. James O’Leary was selected to participate in the 2013 Navy Supply Corps Training with Industry (TWI) program. Lt. Frank Snow was awarded the Vice Admiral Robert F. Batchelder Award for calendar year 2011. Yeoman 2nd Class (AW) Wesley Martinez was named Commander, Naval Forces Europe and Africa/Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (CNE-CNA-C6F) Command Junior Sailor of the Quarter for Jan. 1 to March 31, 2012.

Mr. Pete Lewis

The Griff Hume Anti-terrorism award was first awarded in 2011 for vigilance in anti-terrorism and force protection efforts throughout the year. The award, which can be given in three categories, is named in memory of John "Griff" Hume, MSC's long-serving force protection director, and was created to recognize and bring awareness to MSC's ongoing anti-terrorism/force protection efforts.

Lewis reported to the then-Military Sealift Command Europe in Naples, Italy, in May 2005. He is responsible for the force protection of all MSC ships operating in the Europe and Africa areas of responsibility. Among his accomplishments, Lewis monitored ships’ AT/FP compliance during 476 port calls, supported ships during 138 choke point transits, and provided operational force protection planning and execution to a daily average of 34 MSC ships.

“I’m honored,” said Lewis. “It’s nice to be recognized for your work, especially since it’s based on feedback from people you work with and the people you support. Over the years, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from the masters and civilian mariners thanking me for making their force protection jobs easier.

“Our ships are at the tip of the spear and anything I do needs to support their work out there, not add to it,” said Lewis. “But, like any job, I can’t do a good job unless I’m supported by a great team. I have that here and throughout MSC as a whole.”

Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, Military Sealift Command, presented Lewis his award in a ceremony at MSC headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“This award is a tribute to the unstinting efforts of Mr. Peter Lewis in supporting anti-terrorism and force protection efforts in the Europe and Africa areas of responsibility,” said Rear Adm. Mark Buzby in a message announcing the award. “Well done!”

Lt. Cmdr. James O’Leary

Training with Industry is a 12-month program for Supply Corps lieutenants and lieutenant commanders to serve as fellows with a top supply chain company to gain valuable insight into business processes through exposure to executive level decision-making and direct involvement in corporate meetings and strategy sessions. Participating companies in 2013 are FedEx, Starbucks Coffee Company, and The Home Depot.

O’Leary was selected as one of three out of a field of more than 130 candidates to complete his TWI internship with FedEx in Memphis, Tenn. He reported to TF 63 in 2010 as the fleet readiness officer responsible for providing logistics support to deployed ships in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. Or, in other words –

“We get the ships what they need when they are deployed everywhere from the Black Sea to the North Sea; the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea; from the east and west coast of Africa down to the Cape of Good Hope,” said O’Leary.

Upon completion of the fellowship, O’Leary will serve a three year follow-on tour in one of the Navy’s key supply chain management assignments to use the skills and ideas gained from his experience.

"I think many times, we in the Navy, when choosing options to accomplish our mission or maintain operational readiness, think there's 'no way they do this in the real world,' so I'm excited to see how the 'real world' does solve their problems," said O'Leary. "I understand we are not comparing apples to apples, but, for example, when we have to get a mission critical part to a ship, money isn't necessarily part of the conversation. In the 'real world,' I have to imagine all conversations revolve around impact on operating profits or margins. As our defense budgets continue to decrease, I'm anxious to see their practices and identify how we might be able to apply them to our business."

Selection criteria for the program included officers who will graduate in 2013 from any of the Supply Corps post graduate education programs, as well as those who had already completed two operational tours and a Master’s degree with a 2013 rotation date.

O’Leary completed his Master of Business Administration at Penn State University Smeal College of Business in 2010.

Lt. Frank Snow

The Vice Admiral Robert F. Batchelder Award is presented by the Navy League to those Supply Corps officers who have made significant contributions to the supply readiness of our operating forces. Named one of five awardees, Snow, assigned to TF 63 for the duration of the award period, provided logistics support to permanent and deployed commands across 181 ports within the European and Africa Command areas of responsibility.

Snow’s specific contributions included managing a 75 percent increase in parts movements and a 650 percent increase in personnel movements for the Libyan liberation campaigns of Operations Odyssey Dawn, Unified Protector, and Odyssey Guard; coordinating with U.S. embassies in Africa in support of Africa Partnership Station logistics requirements; and enhancing key relationships between the U.S. 6th Fleet staff, type commanders, task forces, shore command, and commercial activities.

“This award is a testament to your leadership, comprehensive understanding of naval logistics, and superb support for the warfighters’ unit readiness,” wrote Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, in a congratulatory letter to Snow. “On behalf of every command with which you coordinated theater logistics in C6F AOR, please accept my sincere appreciation for an exceptional job well done!”

Snow transferred from CTF 63 in February 2012 and reported to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

YN2(AW) Wesley Martinez

The CNE-CNA-C6F Command Junior Sailor of the Quarter recognizes the top Junior Sailor who has demonstrated sustained superior performance, proven leadership, self-improvement, command and community involvement, self-expression, military bearing, and appearance. Martinez was selected after participating in an oral board, along with three other candidates amongst CNE-CNA-C6F directorates.

Having reported to TF 63 in 2011, Martinez is the administrative clerk responsible for reviewing and processing personnel and administrative actions for 56 military and civilian personnel assigned to the combined commands. He was nominated for his accomplishments in the position including tracking all customer service matters such as temporary lodging allowance claims, overseas housing allowance processing, electronic service records updates, and reenlistments; training a newly-hired civilian administrative assistant, and fostering a positive workplace environment.

“We're extremely proud of his selection because he represents our combined commands and he's a Sailor that others would emulate,” said Master Chief Logistics Specialist (AW/SW) Patrick J. Adams, TF 63 and MSCEURAF senior enlisted leader and leading chief petty officer. “He's intelligent, hard-working and always conducts himself well in and out of uniform. He works well with his shipmates, is very respectful and supportive of his leaders and is active in the community.

“He's currently pursuing his B.A. degree thru Harvard University and is always trying to improve himself professionally and militarily,” said Adams. “A model Sailor and I would say that he's got a bright future in the military.”

Martinez is enrolled in a study abroad program through Harvard University to earn his Bachelor of Liberal Arts (Focus government) degree. Pandolfe presented a Letter of Commendation and plaque to Martinez during the annual CNE-CNA-C6F Command Picnic on Jun 22.