Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. – The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) logistics community took time to remember the legacy of Michael G. Simodejka, the man primarily responsible for the establishment of logistics as a major force within the organization, and honor those who are following in his footsteps during a ceremony Nov.25 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and via video-teleconference at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, and Orlando, Florida.

Simodejka, an Army ranger and bronze star recipient started his civilian career with the Navy in 1977 as a staff logistics manager for the Naval Air Engineering Center at Lakehurst. He went on to establish the first Logistics Department at Lakehurst and also became the first civilian director of the Logistics Competency for NAWCAD in 1997. His civilian naval career spanned 23 years before being cut short by his untimely death in August 2000 as one of the passengers on a shuttle flight traveling from Lakehurst to NAS Patuxent River. In his honor, the Michael G. Simodejka Award was created within the NAWCAD Logistics and Industrial Operations Group.  This year marked the 14th year of the award.

Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Assistant Commander for Logistics and Industrial Operations and Todd Balazs, NAVAIR’s Deputy Assistant Commander for Logistics and Industrial Operations were on-hand to present the awards.

The Outstanding Logistics Manager of the Year award was presented to Calvin Farmer, NAWCAD Patuxent River.  Farmer led the establishment of the Aviation Spares Program Team and analyzed and addressed issues to meet the Navy Office of Financial Management and Budget funding benchmarks for aviation spares procurement.  Through Farmer’s guidance, the team ensured the alignment of the multi-disciplined spares planning and execution process.  He developed, integrated and executed process improvement strategies aimed at increasing the affordability of spare parts, while reducing costs.  Through his efforts, more than $1 billion of Navy aircraft procurement funds were successfully obligated.  Farmer also developed the aircraft procurement fund dashboard tool, the focused obligation review process, and instituted in-depth stakeholder training.  Farmer established a model of success that will be used by all future logisticians throughout NAWCAD in the procurement of aviation spares.

The Outstanding Logistics Team of the Year award was presented to the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike System Team.  The team, made up of employees from Patuxent River, Lakehurst and Orlando, provided high quality logistic assessments on four prime contractors for the UCLASS program. They successfully managed to conduct more than 40 logistic technical interchange meetings (TIM) in a six-month period while supporting an additional 50 engineering TIMs.  The logistics team members include: Shaun Donnelly, Matthew Holcomb, Eileen Badia, David Wood, Stephanie Cornet, Theodore VanBrundt, Melissa Raley, Gregory Pegg, Jenna Spitale, John Marcil, Clint Clay and Michael Davis.  Team members from other organizations within NAVAIR include: Warren Baker and Dawn Gehrsitz from Lakehurst; Doug Steward, Eric Choate, Spencer Rawlins, Marcie Langelier, Ian Cameron, Bruce Wilhelm, Barry Dube and Aaron Pearlman from Patuxent River and Joseph Gomrad and Keith Slage from Orlando.

Pat Simodejka, Michael Simodejaka’s widow, attended the ceremony and spoke of her appreciation for this award and how it helps to keep the memory of her husband alive within the logistics community. She emphasized that “Mike was very passionate about his family and his job and this is what led him to be a success in life.  It is apparent that the selectees for this award are also very passionate about their jobs and this is why they are being recognized by this award.  Continue to strive for that passion in everything you do,” she told the attendees.

Also in attendance were Toni Meier, director Logistics Management Integration Department, NAVAIR, Dennis West, director of Industrial Operations, Capt. Eric Schoch, military director Aviation Readiness and Resource Analysis Department, Timothy Brennan, division head of Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Aviation Programs and Michael Breckon, director NAWCAD Logistics.  Representing the Lakehurst senior leadership, was Kathleen Donnelly, director of Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment.