Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst held its first Employee Appreciation and Family Day on July 30. The event provided a rare opportunity for families to learn more about what their loved ones do to support the fleet.  

“Today is all about you, our employees and families. We know that behind our strong workforce is a strong family,” NAWCAD Lakehurst Executive Director Sean D. Brennan said. “The work our team does is imperative in support of NAWCAD Lakehurst’s mission. Their efforts enable Navy and Marine Corps aircraft to launch, land, and be serviced on ships and expeditionary airfields worldwide.” 

The event included indoor and outdoor technology displays, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities for the children. Four of NAWCAD Lakehurst’s departments had table demos, which included shipboard robotics, augmented reality, 3D printing and cryogenics.  

Xavier Rose, one of the organizers of the event, said it was successful in not only bringing colleagues closer together, but also letting their families see what they and others do. 

“This event allowed employees to showcase the work they do on a daily basis to their families, meet the families of their coworkers, and have children experience some exciting STEM demonstrations related to our mission,” Rose said. 

Test engineer Rob Pellegrino, who brought his family to the event while also working as a presenter, said it was fun to see the day as a representative of NAWCAD Lakehurst and as a participant.  

“It was fun to see both our teammates and their families learn about the wide variety of things NAVAIR does,” Pellegrino said. “I also loved watching my son’s expressions as he looked at everything, and seeing what piqued his interest.” 

Michael Dunne, Circuit Card Test and Repair Systems Lab Manager, said he was looking forward to bringing his family to the event, which exceeded his expectations. Dunne said having interactive displays and the STEM activities where he helped his sons make and test paper airplanes aimed at a target made for a memorable day for everyone. 

With around 300 people in attendance, Brennan called the event an “absolute blast.”  

“It was wonderful to see our teammates and their families spend quality time together learning about the incredibly important work our team does to support the fleet,” Brennan said. “From engaging technology demos to fun STEM activities for the kids, and of course the food, the day was filled with laughter and learning.”