REPORT FROM NAVFAC – PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii held a change of command ceremony July 16 fronting its headquarters building on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Captain Michael D. Williamson, a Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Officer, turned over responsibility for NAVFAC Hawaii and more than 1,200 highly-skilled civilian and 200 Navy and Air Force military personnel at the time-honored event to Capt. Dean A. Tufts, CEC.
“Leading extraordinary people at NAVFAC Hawaii has been a highlight of my career,” said Williamson. “We successfully dealt with many challenges these past two years together including sequestration, funding reductions, hiring restrictions, executing many large complex construction projects on Oahu and Kauai, and moving forward with renewable energy initiatives and successes. All of this has ultimately positioned us for success in the future.”
Over the past two years, Williamson’s innovative leadership motivated the NAVFAC Hawaii workforce to deliver over a billion dollars in facilities engineering and environmental services to Navy Region Hawaii, Marine Corps Base Hawaii and numerous Federal agencies. He was instrumental in the completion of the first Advanced Electronic Guidance and Instrumental System (AEGIS) Ashore facility on Kauai for the Missile Defense Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Inouye Region Center on Ford Island, Oahu.
In addition to his duties as Commanding Officer of NAVFAC Hawaii, Williamson also provided his expertise as Navy Region Hawaii’s Regional Engineer helping to improve Navy facilities capabilities, enhancing quality of life for military and civilians, energy conservation, environmental stewardship, community relations and historic preservation. An example of this was his engagement with the state of Hawaii, local and business leadership on the $5.3 billion HART Rail Project ensuring the transfer of land, environmental assessments and Section 106 historic consultation process proceeded effectively. His vigilant efforts results in two high-capacity rail stops servicing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in the future, thereby reducing traffic condition at base entrances and enhancing overall quality of life for military and civilian personnel.
Williamson’s dedication to partnering and innovation moved Navy Region Hawaii’s Energy Program forward toward extensive alternative energy initiatives while instilling Region-wide energy behavior changes affecting in excess of 60,000 personnel. He expanded the Region’s energy program from a traditional energy conservation focused program to one that also addresses energy security concerns, renewable energy initiatives and water conservation efforts to meet the Secretary of the Navy’s (SECNAV) aggressive energy goals. His extraordinary efforts charted a course for the Region to meet all renewable energy goals, and directly resulted in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Pacific Missile Range Facility Kauai, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard receiving 2013 Gold Level of Achievement in the SECNAV Energy and Water Management Awards.
Williamson is remaining in Hawaii and will become NAVFAC Pacific’s Vice Commander where he will be responsible for facilities engineering and construction activities in the Pacific area of responsibility to include Hawaii, Guam and Far East.
“While we’ve accomplished much over the past two years, we still have a long way to go to achieve our energy goals, upgrade our infrastructure and creating a world class integrated training capability here in Hawaii,” said Williamson. “I can think of no one more qualified than Capt. Tufts to lead NAVFAC Hawaii through the challenges that lie ahead.”
Tufts is a native of Springfield, Mass. Prior to reporting to NAVFAC Hawaii he was the Commander of the 31st Seabee Readiness Group (now Naval Construction Group One) of Naval Construction Group 1, Port Hueneme, Calif. He had two previous tours of duty in Hawaii as Aide to the Commander, 3rd Naval Construction Brigade and Facilities Operations Officer, Navy Region Hawaii.
NAVFAC is the Systems Command that delivers and maintains quality, sustainable facilities, acquires and manages capabilities for the Navy’s expeditionary combat forces, provides contingency engineering response, and enables energy security and environmental stewardship. Additional updates and information about NAVFAC can be found on social media sites Facebook and Twitter. Become a Fan at www.facebook.com/navfac and follow us at www.twitter.com/navfac, or visit our Photostream on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/navfac.