By Lee H. Saunders, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Capt. Mike P. Oestereicher succeeded Capt. Mark K. Edelson as commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest Aug. 30 in a change of command ceremony held aboard the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.
The official party included guest speaker NAVFAC Pacific Commander Rear Adm. John J. Adametz and U.S. Navy Chaplain Capt. Terry Gordon giving the invocation and benediction.
“Team NAVFAC Southwest, I cannot express how excited I am to be able to come ‘home’, and to continue to work with you to overcome, both the known challenges, and the curve balls that will undoubtedly, be thrown our way over the next two years,” said Oestereicher, during remarks at the ceremony. “Your hard work, professionalism and dedication are unsurpassed and I am honored to be your commanding officer.”
Oestereicher became the ninth commanding officer of NAVFAC Southwest since its establishment in August 2005 after the disestablishment of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Division and Navy Public Works Center (PWC) San Diego.
Oestereicher, a native of Westminster, Colorado, graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. He was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in February 1991.
He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Colorado, graduate of Keenan-Flagler School of Business Advanced Management Program and the Wharton Advanced Management Program, and a Master of Science Degree in Construction Management and Engineering from the University of Colorado. Oestereicher is a Submarine Combat Warfare Officer and qualified Navy Nuclear Engineer.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Joint Service Commendation, Navy Commendation Medal (second award), Navy Achievement Medal (third award), and several other individual and unit awards.
“I have had the good fortune of spending over 9 years of my Civil Engineer Corps career in the NAVFAC Southwest AOR,” said Oestereicher. “I owe many of you here today, and many more serving in our field offices a big ‘Thank You’, for teaching me what I needed to learn to survive, grow and eventually be offered the opportunity to continue to serve the Navy as the commanding officer of this extremely high performing organization.”
Edelson commanded NAVFAC Southwest from September 2017 to August 2019.
“It has been a true pleasure to serve with the professionals of NAVFAC Southwest and those on the N4 staff at the Navy Region, certainly the highlight of my career,” said Edelson.
Edelson graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, a history minor, and a commission through ROTC. He attended graduate school in 1998, receiving a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Construction Management) from Stanford University.
He is a registered civil engineer in Virginia, a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps, and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (seven awards), the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). He is a Seabee Combat Warfare qualified officer.
More than 3,100 NAVFAC Southwest personnel manage and execute an annual workload in excess of $2 billion in products and services. NAVFAC Southwest personnel support clients with services in planning, design, construction, real estate, environmental and public works support for U. S. Navy shore facilities, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and other federal agencies in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Colorado.