CORRECTED VERSION from Nov. 14

NAVAIR graduated 87 participants from the Senior Executive Management Development Program (SEMDP) during a recent command-wide video teleconferencing ceremony in the Moffett Building atrium on the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD. Speakers for the event included Naval Air Systems Command’s Commander, Vice Admiral Wally Massenburg, the Assistant Commander for Corporate Operations, Ms. Karen Holcomb and the Director of the Career Development office, Ms. Jennifer Altomare.

SEMDP has been NAVAIR’s flagship leadership development program since 1980. The curriculum was designed to be completed in 3 to 5 years, and to expose those enrolled to a wide range of academic exercises, leadership training, and real-world experiences outside the NAVAIR environment. It was also designed to be competitive -- last year’s selection rate was 14%, a testament to the leadership potential and skill level of the 87 graduates and their willingness to challenge themselves for the “greater good” of the Navy and Naval Aviation.

“SEMDP’ers” spend time learning about themselves to help understand and define their personal leadership style. They gain exposure to the Research and Development arm of the Department of the Navy, to Capitol Hill, and to business etiquette, networking, and the ever-elusive work/life balance. Their program is comprehensive, it is demanding, and it requires a level of commitment that is truly rare.

Karen Holcomb said “SEMDP is a valuable and professionally rewarding experience – the expectation is that you will take the learning from classes, from new networks of colleagues, and from rotations and apply it within your organization, within NAVAIR and within NAE – To proactively be a part of the creation of a culture of productivity, proficiency and valued performance.”

SEMDP Graduates for 2005:

From Cherry Point:
John Gatt, Clark Hutchinson, Jeffrey Pettigrew.

China Lake:
Dan Harris, Dwayne Heinsma, Mark Lambert, Christina Lieser, Eileen Loughran.

Jacksonville:
Richard Anderson, Alexis Padilla.

Lakehurst:
Michael Eddowes, James Gonzalez, Juan Jordan Jr, Maureen Kizeik, Paul McGuire, Gerry Mollo,
Patrick Murphy, David Page.

Orlando:
Eric Anschuetz, Una Brown, Karen Cooper, Paul Honold, Leslie Johansen, Constance Niezgoda, Thomas Pokorski, Marion Wyle.

North Island:
Timothy Hoffman, Thomas Jarvis, Sean O’Leary, Simmon Smith.

Point Mugu:
Marcus Makarehchi.

Patuxent River:
Brenda Beisner, Denise Benedik, Jennifer Blake, Donald Blottenberger, Jr. Julieta Booz, Thomas Bowen, Christopher Bowser, Dinnette Briscoe, Mark Burroughs, Amy Caruso, Adam Coghan, Patrick D’Aurora, Joan Devlin, Bruce Dinopoulos, David Epping, Stephen Facini, James Fingerle, Robert Fox, Raymond Gagnon, Thomas Garrett, Georgette Gaskin, Robin Goebel, Gregory Gillingham, Mary Hammerer, Margaret Haskin, Robyyn Hebert, Jacqueline Jones, Clayton Kolb, Kevin Kovaleski, Linda Leimer, Gaetan Mangano,
Stoney MacAdams, John Marino, Margelyn Massey, Linda Mattingly, Micahel Powell-Salas, Charles O’Brien III, Dana Price, Gale Ragland, Randall Allen, Hope Ruffin, Kirk Rutland, Michael Ryan, Donald Snyder, James Stanford, Elmer Stone, Timothy Thomas, Carlos Velez, Gerard Walles, Les Wetherington, James Winafeld, Juliann Woods, Dr, Shawn Woodson, Kathy Woodson.

VADM Massenburg had this to say about SEMDP graduates. “Always remember that because of you, this organization will get better. Because of you, the crusade for change will catch fire and spread throughout NAVAIR’s programs, competencies, PEOs, and business units. Because of you, others will be inspired, they will learn, they will understand, and they will follow your example of careful and patient analysis, of fixing broken processes, and making NAVAIR more agile, more responsive, and more efficient.”