Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) Commanding Officer Capt. Mel Yokoyama officially opened an expanded Fleet Readiness Directorate Installation Office (FIO) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 8 at Naval Station San Diego.
The building project completes a five year process and grows the waterfront operations for SSC Pacific's Fleet Modernization and Installation Division (FMID) personnel.
"Our first priority has always been to ensure the combat readiness of our ships and to make certain our Sailors and Marines have every advantage so that they can complete their missions and return home safe," said Yokoyama. "By increasing our waterfront footprint, we're signaling that SPAWAR's Fleet Readiness Directorate and SSC Pacific are all in!"
"At the same time, this larger building expands our capacity to provide continuous, more immediate direct support to the fleet. We'll now be able to stage more of our equipment and conduct more of our operations where and when it matters most," added Yokoyama. "It also means we'll be saving time and costs associated with ship installs and repairs."
During fiscal year 2017, the FIO completed over 880 integrated installations on 478 ships and 121 submarines, and at 281 shore facilities. Additionally, the FIO established a scientist and engineer ship visit program, performing more than 14 tours for more than 160 SSC Pacific employees. This program allowed employees to witness and experience industrial and installation activities, as well as system integration onboard USS Essex (LHD 2).
Jonathan Bielar, SSC Pacific fleet installation team manager, explained how this new location will provide greater accessibility for Sailors serving on the Naval Base San Diego waterfront.
"We now have more than 10,000 square feet of waterfront space from which to conduct our work in planning, building and executing installations of [Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance] C4ISR systems aboard Navy ships," said Bielar. "Proximity is everything and our new building allows SSC Pacific's waterfront action officers and project team leads to walk right out to any ship, at any time!"