NORFOLK, VA – Capt. Matthew Riethmiller relieved Capt. Tres Meek as commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic (MIDLANT) today during a Change of Command ceremony held aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) at Naval Station Norfolk.
Rear Adm. Lore Aguayo, Commander, NAVFAC Atlantic, was the presiding officer and guest speaker for the ceremony. Family, friends and colleagues of both incoming and outgoing leadership attended the event.
“Capt. Riethmiller is, without a doubt, the right officer to build upon NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic’s accomplishments and great reputation,” Aguayo said in support of Riethmiller’s leadership style, his professionalism, and his ability to “raise the bar” to meet new and existing challenges head on. “Matt has excelled in every assignment he’s ever taken, and believe me, he has only taken the hardest assignments we have.”
Riethmiller, like his predecessor, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the command. His operational tours include: Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) FIVE; Operations Officer, NMCB ELEVEN; First Naval Construction Division Forward; Air Detachment Officer-in-Charge (OIC)/Charlie Company Commander, NMCB THREE; and Commander, Naval Construction Group ONE in Port Hueneme, California. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of North Carolina, a member of the Department of Defense Acquisition Professional Community, and a Seabee Combat Warfare qualified officer.
“NAVFAC MIDLANT is huge and complex … and if they (Team MIDLANT) are up for the challenge, the opportunity is here,” Riethmiller said of the command and its people. “… I’m impressed with not only the positivity, but also the creativity in how the staff takes on the challenge each day.”
During Meek’s two-year tenure as commanding officer, he led more than 4,000 military and civilian personnel, ensuring world class facilities support to fleet units, warfighters, and their families at 14 Navy and four Marine Corps Installations, and facility service contract actions valued in excess of $6.3 billion. Furthermore, he enhanced shore lethality to pace strategic competition, which included enabling Columbia-class submarine delivery, and led complex facilities and environmental program management, balancing regional priorities.
Additionally, he led record execution to award a $1.7 billion multi-mission dry-dock military construction project – the largest award in NAVFAC history – supporting the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program. His actions prioritized supported commander’s missions, guiding the command through a global pandemic, while leading record execution in support of critical Navy and Marine Corps programs.
Meek received the Legion of Merit from Aguayo for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Commanding Officer of NAVFAC MIDLANT and Regional Engineer, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic from July 2020 through July 2022.
“I stand before you today incredibly grateful and with total humility … without fail, every single MIDLANT team member is dedicated in their support of the fleet, Marine Corps, and their families,” he said of his entire NAVFAC military and civilian team that spans from South Carolina to Maine, and as far west as Indiana. “Pillars of our profession … pillars that get up every day to get the Navy to sea or the Marines to the beach.”
His next assignment will be the Maritime Headquarters Director at Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
NAVFAC MIDLANT’s dedication to our clients is demonstrated by our continuous improvement of quality and client satisfaction. We continually seek to improve response times, reduce backlog and carryover, ensure adequate return on investment, reduce unneeded infrastructure, improve safety, and ensure environmental compliance. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.
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