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NFELC, 31st SRG Welcome New Commander

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100702-25
7/2/2010

By Mason Lowery, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center (NFELC) and 31st Seabee Readiness Group (31st SRG) held a change of command ceremony June 30.

Capt. John W. Korka relieved Capt. James A. Worcester as commanding officer of both commands.

The ceremony on the Seabee Parade Field featured more than 600 Seabees, a display of Seabee construction equipment and vehicles, and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band from 29 Palms.

Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and Chief of Civil Engineers Rear Adm. Christopher Mossey presented Worcester with the Legion of Merit for leading NFELC and 31st SRG in outfitting, training and mobilizing Seabees and other expeditionary forces into the 21st century.

Worcester assumed command of NFELC in June 2008 after serving as deputy commander for Operations, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic. Mossey and Commander, First Naval Construction Division (1NCD) Rear Adm. Mark Handley, presided over the ceremony.

"Seabees, you've made my career worthwhile. There is nowhere else I'd rather serve than with you," said Worcester, who is moving to Little Creek, Va., where he will take over as chief staff officer for 1NCD. "Thank you for who you are, what you do and what you will continue to do – thank you for being Seabees."

"Captain Korka, I'm ready to be relieved," Worcester said before inspecting his Seabees one last time during the "Troop the Line" ceremony and handing them over to Korka.

Korka, who is coming to Port Hueneme after a two-year tour as commanding officer, Officer in Charge of Construction, Bethesda Md., told Worcester, "The troops look outstanding," and addressed the Seabees and civilian personnel of his two new commands for the first time.

"My vision is that our naval construction force unit will be situationally aware, combat ready, crisp in execution, accountable, and skillful in communication. Today, our military forces are deployed around the world combating terrorism, engaged in nation building and supporting humanitarian operations. Seabees are at the tip of the spear playing a critical role supporting all these missions," Korka said. "As such, let's always make certain that our units are well equipped and prepared to accomplish the missions they are tasked to execute. As your commodore, I pledge my full energy to assure you that you will be ready and able to succeed."

Korka received a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University and is a graduate of the National Defense University Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Executive Training Program at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. He is a registered professional engineer, a member of the Defense Acquisition Community, and a Seabee Combat Warfare qualified officer.

Korka's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various other unit and service awards.

Both NFELC and 31st SRG personnel play a significant role supporting the United States' strategy in Afghanistan. NFELC and 31st SRG personnel train and equip Seabees for their missions. Seabees are deployed to Afghanistan executing general engineering, infrastructure construction and project management in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

NFELC provides overarching asset management on behalf of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and other expeditionary forces and is responsible for life-cycle management of the equipment and materials required to support their missions. In addition to expeditionary logistics, NFELC provides maintenance and mobilization of Naval Construction Force (NCF) equipment, and mobile utilities in support of global Navy and Marine Corps requirements.

The 31st SRG is a non-deploying unit with administrative control to man, train and equip six NCF units to include four homeported Naval Mobile Construction Battalions. The SRG also provides training and equipment support to numerous other NCF reserve units mobilizing through Port Hueneme for forward deployment in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Two of the SRG's active duty battalions are currently forward deployed in support of the surge of forces in Afghanistan.

Seabees from 31st SRG, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMBC) 3, NMBC 40, Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Underwater Construction Team 2 and NFELC participated in the ceremony.