The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Logistics community took time to remember Michael G. Simodejka, the man primarily responsible for establishing Logistics as a major force across NAWCAD.

By 1977, he had begun his Navy civilian career as a Staff Logistics Manager in the Support Equipment Engineering Department having completed a distinguished Army Ranger career, earning numerous commendations and decorations. He moved to the Ship Installations Department as a Logistics Division Head before he was tasked with establishing the first Logistics Department where he was installed as Department Head.

In 1997, Simodejka became the first civilian Director of the Logistics Competency for the entire NAWCAD. His 23-year career as a highly successful manager and leader in logistics management was cut short by a crash of a shuttle flight from Lakehurst to Patuxent River, MD.

In 2000, the Michael G. Simodejka Award was established within the NAWCAD Logistics and Industrial Operations Group, Code 6.0. Pat Simodejka, attending the ceremony with son-in-law Michael, grandchildren, Michael and Kira, spoke of her appreciation for this award that keeps the memory of her husband alive within the Logistics Community and she updated everyone on the Simodejkas’ past year, as she has done for each ceremony.

During the ceremony, RDML(s) C. J. Jaynes, AIR-6.0, and Garry Newton, SES, AIR-6.0A, with Master of Ceremonies, Christopher Reymann, NAWCAD 6.0 recognized Scott Swain as the Michael G. Simodejka Outstanding Logistics Manager of the Year for his superior dedication and professionalism while performing his duties as Deputy Assistant Program Manager for Logistics for the Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) Team. EAF deploys shore based landing systems for naval forces to land aircraft on any flat area in the world.

Swain’s persistence and ability to manage daily support of many acquisition and legacy systems made a distinct difference to our warfighters. As the citation summarized, “He has displayed the professionalism, knowledge, and ‘can do’ spirit that embody the Michael G. Simodejka award.”

Next, RDML(s) C. J. Jaynes, and Garry Newton, recognized the Optimization Performance Model (OPOM) Implementation Team as the Michael G. Simodejka Team of the Year. They recognized team members Andrea Incorvia, Stephanie Demanns, LT Kyle Johnson, Martha Lee, Fariha Ibrahim, Jennifer Nowak, Lakshmi Ghanta and Dorothy Nicks, for their efforts and initiatives in developing and implementing a model for the Air System Support funding accounts.

Through members’ dedicated efforts, the team gave the programs and competencies a tool to adequately budget and fund logistics and engineering efforts. This contributed significantly to cost-wise readiness, improved reliability, and integrated logistics and engineering support.

The demonstrated leadership of the OPOM Team resulted in improved Air Systems Support account budgeting practices across the logistics competency and improved quality of service to fleet users by promoting the optimum funding of logistics and engineering support requirements.