Dedication to safety excellence has earned a Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) supervisor the Admiral Vern Clark Safety Award for fiscal year 2024.

Angelo Owens, who serves as the depot’s Safety and Occupational Health Division director, was acknowledged during the 2025 Sea-Air-Space Exposition’s Navy League Luncheon April 8 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Owens’ receipt of the award marked the second time in the award’s 10-year history that a member of the Naval Air Systems Command’s workforce has been recognized with the honor.

Presented annually by the Navy League of the United States, the Admiral Vern Clark and General James L. Jones Safety Awards honor individuals, units or organizations within the Department of the Navy whose outstanding contributions to safety planning and execution have fostered a culture of safety in their workforce. The awards celebrate those whose efforts have made safety integral to mission success, reduced fatalities and mishaps, and had a measurable impact on the command’s overall safety program.

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of FRC East,” said Owens. “Even though this is considered an individual award, I feel it’s reflective of the command as a whole because it was only possible through teamwork. This award recognizes and the efforts of so many people who have contributed to the success of our safety programs.”

Brian Snow, who serves as the Deputy Safety director under Owens’ supervision, said he nominated Owens for this award due to the major impact Owens has made on the depot’s safety program since his arrival at FRCE in 2020.

“Angelo has been the driving force in reducing risks for FRC East employees,” said Snow. “Leveraging Navy directives, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and Voluntary Protection Program tools, he effectively leads his team toward success, ensuring the highest standards of safety and compliance. He is a no-nonsense, consummate safety professional who fully understands the importance of safety in an industrial environment and is relentless in his pursuit of reducing injuries and illnesses.”

Amy Morgan, Owens’ supervisor and head of the command’s Compliance and Quality Department, said Owens is exactly what she was looking for when recruiting for the Safety and Occupational Health Division director position.

“Angelo is extremely skilled and accomplished,” said Morgan. “He came in with a lot of real-world experience, professional certifications and education. This is a complex industrial environment and the work we do here supports a very important mission. I knew bringing him in, he would not only be able to lead the team but also lift them up.”   

Prior to his career at FRCE, Owens served in the Navy for 24 years, during which he was an electrician, deep-sea diver and explosive ordnance disposal technician. Owens said he has been able to apply a lot of what he learned during his time in the military to his current role.

“I started out as an electrician and in 1984, I went to a deep-sea diver school,” said Owens. “There, we used the same types of air samples to test the scuba air that we use to test the air here at the depot. I then became an explosive ordnance disposal technician. We would dive, parachute, and we worked on all foreign and domestic ordnances, including both improvised explosive devices and nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

“For each position I held, came a new set of rules, regulations and training requirements, all of which focused on keeping us safe while performing very high-risk and dangerous operations,” Owens continued. “When I transitioned to my current position, having that background knowledge and experience, along with a good understanding of the Navy’s safety procedures and protocols, was very helpful. FRC East has an explosives safety program and a radiation safety program, and I was able to bring the knowledge I gained as a master explosive disposal technician in the Navy and apply it to those programs.”

In recent years, Owens has focused on improving some of the depot’s major compliance programs, including the Confined Space Program, Explosives Safety Program and Radiation Safety Program, according to Morgan. She said these efforts have played a major role in the facility’s standing in the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program and recent inspection.

“Angelo has placed a particular emphasis on strengthening these programs, and we are seeing the fruits of his labor,” said Morgan. “If not managed properly, each of these programs has the potential to cause serious injury. Drawing from his vast knowledge of these programs, he has organized additional training for our program managers and funding to purchase updated equipment. These efforts have proven successful, as demonstrated in our most recent Aircraft Maintenance Inspection; where we saw significant improvements in these areas and achieved an overall score of 96%.”

Morgan said Owens has helped mitigate the many of the depot’s most serious and expensive safety and health hazards by pursuing nontraditional training and funding sources to supplement the command’s current training opportunities for the workforce.

“Angelo went out in search of external sources that would either provide free training or fund training for our workforce and he was successful,” said Morgan. “He didn’t just sit back and say, ‘Okay, I’m going to live with what we are able to pay for here.’ He really pushed and leaned into finding other resources that have helped to further develop our safety programs and keep our workforce safe.”

In addition to his ingenuity, Snow believes Owen’s leadership style and go-getter attitude have played a significant role in the success of the depot’s safety programs.

“His leadership style, which focuses on providing guidance and support, has brought the safety team together and motivated them to put forth their best efforts,” said Snow. “Once a plan is in place, they know they have his full backing as it is carried out. He motivates the team to think creatively when tackling challenging issues, while remaining vigilant for potential hazards and offering guidance whenever necessary.”

Owens said by empowering his teammates to succeed, he is not only setting them up for success, but also the command.

“One of the biggest things I focus on is doing everything I can do help those around me improve and excel,” said Owens. “I look at each individual and think of how I can build that individual up, and make them a stronger, smarter and better professional with greater opportunities. Whether this is accomplished through additional training, one-on-one chats or creating a completely different workflow – I do whatever I can do to help. Focusing on their career and knowledge growth, in turn, helps me accomplish our mission, which is to protect our workforce and promote our command.”

Owens said that concept of safety as a team effort extends throughout FRCE and even beyond the command.

“Not only is it the supervisors and employees who perform the work, it’s also our entire Quality and Compliance Department and the executive leadership team,” said Owens. “Then you add in our higher echelons: Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers and Naval Air Systems Command, as well as the Department of the Navy, the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They have all contributed to our success by supporting our goals and the safety of our personnel.

“We’ve worked very hard to ensure the command’s safety programs remain in place and effective, but its success ultimately depends on the employees and supervisors that are performing the work,” Owens continued. “We must collaborate, work as a team and empower every member of our workforce with the knowledge and understanding of how we approach safety and why we do it that way.”

Instilling a culture of safety throughout the command benefits both FRCE and the fleet, said Morgan.

“By having a command that is focused on the safety of our FRC East family, we have more people who are healthy, here every day and ready to support the mission of the warfighter,” said Morgan. “The less injuries we have, the less cost that is to the command and the greater Navy. It’s a win-win situation in that our workforce remains safe and is here to support the mission, and it’s less costly.”

According to Owens, keeping the workforce safe and saving taxpayer dollars are not only the primary goals of the depot’s safety program – they are his goals, as well.

“What I really focus on and what I really desire is to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities,” said Owens. “Our primary purpose is to get aircraft in and out as fast as we can. Every time someone gets hurt, depending on the severity of the injury, we lose time, manpower and money. By providing the proper training and personal protective equipment, we can prevent these injuries, mitigate lost manpower and save the money we would have paid out for medical costs, all of which helps us to get aircraft back to the fleet faster and more efficiently.”

FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. – Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) has been recognized with the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Aviation Safety Award for its exceptional commitment to safety, risk management, and operational excellence. This achievement highlights the command’s dedication to fostering a culture of safety that ensures both personnel and aircraft are mission-ready.

“It is an honor to command an organization that not only sets the benchmark in cost, schedule and performance but that also validates its vigorous production effort and fleet sustainment support via absolute teamwork achieving the highest safety and quality standards.” – CAPT Luis “Rick” Rivera FRCSW Commanding Officer

FRCSW, one of the largest and most successful aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the Department of Defense, supports a workforce of over 2,700 personnel across multiple locations. The command’s approach to safety is deeply embedded in its operations, aligning with the Navy’s High-Velocity Learning (HVL) principles—continuously identifying risks, developing mitigation strategies, and proactively sharing lessons learned.

“This award exemplifies the hard work and dedication of our entire safety team and workforce,” said Christopher Gibson, FRCSW Branch Manager for Safety and Occupational Health. “Safety is not just a department—it’s a shared responsibility across every level of our organization.”

LT Jesta Jackson, who also serves as the command’s Government Flight Representative, plays a critical role in overseeing aviation-related safety programs, particularly in the high-risk environment of returning aircraft to operational status. Her work has helped reinforce safety protocols at the depot, ensuring smooth coordination between maintenance personnel and aircrew.

“Our goal is to build a workplace where risk management isn’t just a checklist—it’s second nature,” said LT Jackson, FRCSW’s military Ground Safety Officer (GSO). “The safety culture here is built on open dialogue, empowerment, and continuous improvement.”

Over the past year, FRCSW has implemented several key initiatives that contributed to this recognition:

Hazard Identification and Mitigation: The command enhanced its reporting systems, encouraging personnel to proactively identify safety concerns. The Safety Office conducted over 120 facility inspections in alignment with ISO 45001 (an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety management system), strengthening hazard abatement efforts across the command.

Medical Surveillance and Hearing Conservation: The team improved compliance in medical surveillance programs by assigning a dedicated point of contact, streamlining scheduling, and increasing participation in mobile audiometric testing which allowed for an increase in testing availability at the command. This resulted in a 30% increase in hearing conservation program compliance within six months.

Enhanced Training and Communication: Safety briefings, human factors analysis, and lessons learned from fleet mishaps were integrated into aircrew meetings and Aviation Safety Councils. This transparency enabled FRCSW personnel to implement best practices from across the Navy and Marine Corps aviation communities.

Supporting the F-35 and F-16 Expansion: As FRCSW took on the maintenance of its first F-35 and F-16 aircraft, safety professionals collaborated closely with logistics, test line personnel, and the Fleet to establish training and risk management protocols tailored to these platforms.

Reduction in Injury Rates: In FY24, FRCSW saw a 60% reduction in Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) injuries and a 53% decrease in Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR)—a direct result of improved risk mitigation strategies and leadership engagement. It should be noted that the FRCSW DART and TCIR rates are the best of any maintenance command under the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) umbrella.

A proactive approach to safety at FRCSW has been instrumental in preventing serious incidents. One notable example involved a Class A mishap investigation related to an MH-53 aircraft, where a quality process gap was identified as a contributing factor. Through thorough root cause analysis, the team worked with Fleet Readiness Center East and Naval Air Systems Command to update procedures, ensuring that similar oversights would not occur in the future.

“This kind of safety improvement effort exemplifies what we strive for—constant assessment and correction to protect both our workforce and the warfighter,” said Jackson.

The CNO Aviation Safety Award is both a recognition of past accomplishments and a reflection of FRCSW’s ongoing commitment to safety excellence. The team is already looking ahead to further advancements, including expanding safety training accessibility, implementing new safety technologies, developing a mobile app for PPE reimbursement, and replacing all standard stop signs.

At its core, FRCSW’s safety culture is a collective effort, strengthened by leadership engagement and artisan buy-in.

“Every individual here—from aircrew to artisans to leadership—plays a role in keeping FRCSW a safe place to work,” said Gibson. “This award belongs to all of us.”

With a firm foundation in safety, quality, and readiness, FRCSW continues to set the standard for aviation maintenance excellence, ensuring that aircraft and personnel are always prepared to meet the demands of the fleet.

When Jamie Birt set her sights on a new role within the C-130 Integrated Product Team at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), she knew she wasn’t making the move alone. She had a mentor – one who had been preparing her for this career milestone all along.

Jennifer “Jenn” Walter, program manager for the Bell V-22 Public-Private Partnership at FRCE, had spent 18 months guiding Birt, helping her connect her work to the broader mission of the depot and its higher headquarters, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). That mentorship, Birt said, was pivotal to her success – so much so that she nominated Walter as FRCE’s 2024 Mentor of the Year.

Walter’s impact didn’t go unnoticed. She was selected for the honor and recognized by NAVAIR leadership, joining 10 other site winners in a virtual ceremony broadcast across the command.

“It is truly an honor to have been selected as Mentor of the Year; it feels good to know that I am making an impact,” said Walter, a Havelock native and 13-year employee of FRCE. “I feel like you don’t often realize the influence a mentor has had on you until later, so to receive this acknowledgment now is really special – and it made me want to go thank many of my previous mentors, as well.”

Birt, once a production controller and now an acquisitions program specialist, said she wouldn’t be where she is today without the mentorship and support Walter provides.

“Jenn certainly played a critical role in getting me promoted,” Birt explained. “She emphasized our strategic priorities, such as increasing material readiness and accelerating capability delivery. She drew attention to how these objectives centered on efficiency and effectiveness, guiding me in understanding how our team’s efforts contribute to these goals and the importance of measurable outcomes like improving system reliability and reducing acquisition cycle times.

“I wouldn’t be in acquisitions if it wasn’t for Jenn, that’s for sure; she’s had a huge impact on that,” Birt continued. “She challenged me. She broadened my understanding of organization culture, and her mentorship ensured I was well prepared to align my contributions to the mission. I don’t think mentors get recognized enough, and that’s why I nominated her for Mentor of the Year. Jenn has been a driving force and certainly a motivating person. If you work hard, she’ll invest in you, and that really stood out to me. I can’t speak highly enough about her.”

For Walter, who has spent the last eight years in her program manager role, ensuring her mentee is prepared to support the warfighter is clearly part of the mentor role. That ethos ties into her own personal philosophy of selfless service, she noted.

“In order to have a successful mentor-mentee relationship, you must have an ‘others before self’ attitude,” Walter said. “Mentoring has helped me grow and refine my leadership and communication skills, and provided a way to contribute to the success and growth of others – but helping them achieve their goals is my priority. Mentoring is a win-win, but my own personal growth and development is just a byproduct of the collaboration.

“It’s the same way with our mission of providing the warfighter with what they need, when they need it,” she added. “At FRC East, we are the ‘backbone of readiness,’ and by guiding, supporting and investing in the growth of those around me, I help build a stronger, more capable team. When we share knowledge, develop others, and ensure their success, we reinforce a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement – ultimately driving mission success.”

In addition to a good working rapport, Walter said she believes trust and understanding are key to a successful mentor-mentee relationship.

“You have to connect with each other on more than just a surface level,” she said. “My mentoring philosophy and my overall leadership philosophy are one in the same: In order to be an effective leader, you must be trustworthy, positive, and self-aware. It is the same for mentoring.”

Birt agreed that growing a productive mentorship requires each party to develop a deeper understanding of the other.

“I do think that it's a little bit foundational – all the best mentors I had, I didn't just jump into this great mentor relationship right away,” she said. “I knew Jenn from working with her, and it built over time. I knew who she was when I asked if she would like to be my mentor.

“She took it as an honor, like it was an honor and a privilege for her to do that for me,” Birt continued.
“And now we’ve fostered this great relationship together. I think that having that foundation of knowing the person first helps. It is nerve wracking to go into a mentorship relationship blindly because you don't know what your expectations of each other are.”

Walter said she developed this mentorship and leadership ethos through her experiences with mentors along the way, although she began her own experience in serving as a mentor fairly recently.

“I have had many formal and informal mentors over the years; I would not be where I am today in my career without each and every mentor that has crossed my path,” Walter said. “I initially got into mentoring informally during a high-level project 18 months ago. During that project, I had to work closely with people from every department at FRC East. That is how my mentoring journey began, and I was formally asked to be a mentor by someone who was also working on the project.”

That someone was Birt, who served as a mentor herself when she was an active-duty Sailor. She said developing a mentorship relationship with Walter was important not just to her professional advancement, but also to her transition to life as a civilian employee at a command with a complex organizational structure like FRCE.

“When my husband and I moved (to Cherry Point) and I began work at the command, it was all very new for me. I knew that a mentor was what I needed in order to make this transition into a whole new command easier,” she said.

“My advice for anyone is that when you’re coming into new situation, give yourself time to adjust and then seek out a mentor,” Birt continued. “You’ll know who the people are that you can learn from. You can quickly identify them and just ask.”

Gregory Clarke, Partnerships and Agreements Branch head at FRCE and Walter’s supervisor, said her performance as a mentor has been noteworthy and is deserving of recognition.

“During a major recovery effort when a large portion of the V-22 fleet was grounded, Jenn drew significant attention and praise from across the Naval Aviation Enterprise for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the recovery evolution. Jamie, a top-notch junior government employee, was so impressed that she asked Jenn if she would become her official mentor,” he explained. “Jenn enthusiastically took on the role. She became her mentee’s champion, and provided her with professional advice and guidance that included developing short- and long-term goals and providing networking opportunities. Additionally, that mentee has recently been promoted and attributes Jenn’s excellent mentorship as a key element to her success.

“The Mentorship Program is a key component to the development and sustainment of a competent and professional NAVAIR workforce to support warfighter requirements now and in the future,” Clarke continued. “Jenn is truly a high-performing individual who does not take her role as a leader and mentor lightly. I am very proud and fortunate to have Jenn as a member of the Partnerships and Agreements Team.”

Birt described Walter’s approach to mentorship as holistic, meaning Walter focused not just on Birt’s understanding of organizational culture, but also her development in leadership and professional skills. With Walter’s encouragement, Birt has taken on career-broadening training events that have added skills to her professional toolkit.

“Her focus is always on, what can we do next? Let’s keep working on building yourself,” Birt said. “She believes that growth is continuous, and has challenged me, and won’t let my fear of something be the deterrent to my moving forward.”

Walter said her whole-person approach to mentorship stems from her own best experiences.

“The most effective mentors that I have had were not just concerned with my success in the workplace, they were concerned with my personal development as well,” Walter explained. “Personal and professional development work together to create a well-rounded individual capable of thriving in any setting.

“My favorite part of mentoring is the opportunity to build meaningful, lasting relationships,” she continued. “It's incredibly rewarding to be part of someone's journey and know that I made a positive impact on their personal or professional growth. Plus, mentoring often teaches me new perspectives and keeps me constantly learning as well!”

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently received an honorable mention from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) 2024 Environmental Awards for its accomplishments in support of the Department of Defense’s environmental programs. This marks the command’s third SECDEF honorable mention.

The SECDEF Environmental Awards recognize installations, teams and individuals for their outstanding achievements in innovative and cost-effective environmental management strategies that successfully support mission readiness.  

In the past, FRCE has received five SECNAV Environmental Awards, the Secretary of Defense Environmental Award, eight Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Awards and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s P2 Award for pollution prevention, in addition to two Sustainability Awards from the state.

FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.