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NAVAIR NCMA earns top honors second straight year

  • Published
  • By Tom Worsdale
  • Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Naval Air Systems Command Lakehurst chapter was honored by being named the nation's best Naval Civilian Managers Association in Alexandria chapter for the second consecutive year June 26, 2013, at the annual NCMA conference in Virginia.

Lakehurst's NCMA chapter competed against chapters from across the country and was once again singled out for its members' proactive involvement with the surrounding community, their support to base leadership and their service to the NAVAIR employee population at Lakehurst.

The NCMA, established in 1947, is a management organization of senior civilians in naval activities dedicated to the principle that a strong Navy can best serve the interests of America. The goal is to promote naval installation efficiency and effectiveness and foster community relations through chapter member activity.

The Lakehurst chapter continued to facilitate educational partnerships with several area universities, colleges, technical schools and school districts in 2012 and 2013. The members sponsored career days, science fairs and symposiums, robotics competitions and mentoring and shadowing programs.

They also provided $2,100 in scholarship money to science contest winners, students from the Ocean County Vocational Technical School and a student from Manchester High School. The chapter contributed an additional $2,000 to support science technology engineering and mathematics research development at the Lakehurst Elementary School, sponsorship of the Navy Ball and Combined Federal Campaign support.

Chapter members also served as first aid and fire company volunteers, worked to send care packages to troops deployed overseas and participated in Thanksgiving and Christmas food and gift drives.

The Lakehurst Chapter established a public affairs committee this year to create a quarterly newsletter for its members and a tri-fold explaining the purpose and vision of NCMA. Chapter leadership also now holds membership on the New Jersey Governor's Council and they hosted visits to the base by local mayors, freeholders and government officials.

"It is very exciting to be selected for the second year in a row as the outstanding NCMA national chapter," said John Schmelzle, chapter president. "Our members continue to do a splendid job as volunteers, role models and educators. They are an involved and exuberant group who are always looking for ways to contribute both on base and in the community. It is an honor to work with them throughout the year."

The chapter has managed to increase membership by more than 25 percent in the past year, growing by 30 new members. The Lakehurst NCMA chapter has done an exceptional job promoting understanding and respect for the Navy mission at Lakehurst with the enthusiastic support of its members.