NAVFAC Leaders Attend SAME Capital Week Conference

Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and chief of Civil Engineers emphasized the importance of industry partnerships, alternative construction methods, and engaging with Congress during an executive leadership panel at the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Capital Week conference last week in Rockville, Maryland.

Senior leaders representing NAVFAC’s planning, design and construction; contracting, environmental, and innovation and integration divisions also took part in panel discussions during the conference.

“SAME Capital Week provides us the opportunity to highlight how NAVFAC is leveraging alternative construction methods and materials to meet the needs of the warfighter,” VanderLey said. “It is important for the government to continuously collaborate with industry to identify and implement new innovative infrastructure solutions and apply industry best practices.”

During a panel discussion about emerging technologies and building systems opportunities, director of innovation and integration Bob Silver focused on NAVFAC’s pursuit of technologies and processes designed to reduce construction costs and delivery times. He also prioritized exploration of emergent technologies such as industrialized construction, innovative acquisition strategies, and artificial intelligence tools.

Rob Sadorra, director of NAVFAC’s environmental restoration division, detailed Navy environmental programs in a panel discussion with Army and Air Force environmental program leaders. He noted the significant workload related to the Navy’s efforts to address potential impacts to local drinking water sources in surrounding base communities due to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination.

“The focus is on eliminating current drinking water exposure, identifying and mitigating migration of contamination from on-base sources, and replacing AFFF with fluorine free alternatives,” Sadorra said.

The Navy’s design and construction program was featured in another panel discussion. Keith Hamilton, chief engineer and assistant commander for planning, design and construction, reiterated comments made when he testified March 11 before the Congressional House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.

“We are continuously collaborating with industry to identify and implement new innovative infrastructure solutions and to apply industry best practices that help make our U.S. war fighters more lethal, adaptable, effective and resilient,” he said.

Hamilton highlighted how NAVFAC is using innovative design and construction approaches to meet warfighter needs today while exploring how new technologies, materials, and methods can be best applied to improve military construction for future projects.

Assistant commander for contracting Cindy Readal noted NAVFAC’s precedent-setting contract execution success in fiscal year 2024, with the command processing 28,000 contract actions. Overall, the command obligated $16.5 billion for construction, supplies and services, including $5.6 billion in small business awards.

NAVFAC is the naval shore facilities, base operating support, and expeditionary engineering systems command that delivers life-cycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned to fleet and Marine Corps priorities.