Q&A
Jan 10, 2023
Whether he is working hard managing large engineering programs or playing hard at 鈥渢he happiest place on earth,鈥 Jake Washington brings excellence to everything he does. He held progressive program and project management assignments throughout his career in the U.S. Navy, culminating as Commanding Officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, where he led a 1,000-member military and civilian workforce serving Department of Defense agencies throughout a 16-state region. We sat down with Jake to talk about his home base of California, his history working with the Navy (and other military branches) and how his military career has impacted his perspective at #Our网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区.
After 28 years, you retired from the U.S. Navy. What do you bring from that experience to your role at 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区?
After 28 years in military engineering, from the installation level to the Pentagon, I bring a deep, holistic knowledge of military facility requirements, from concept through the entire lifecycle. I understand the plethora of unique and changing conditions and how to engineer resilient, energy-smart facilities. I used this knowledge to support the uniformed services during my active-duty career and all federal agencies for the past ten years as a federal client leader for 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区.
You helped China Lake recover after two major earthquakes. How did that affect you?
I was privileged to lead the 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区 team鈥檚 response to the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes. Over the past three years, we have employed almost 1,000 technical staff to support the continuing recovery effort. We worked side-by-side with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) to help plan, program and fashion a design-build delivery strategy in record time. We worked to complete 18 military construction projects and established a new field office near the base to provide on-site construction support through completion in 2026. I saw this as a 鈥渃all to duty,鈥 reminiscent of similar emergency response missions I supported on active duty. I experienced a tremendous sense of pride watching the 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区 team perform and seeing new leaders emerge and shine in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. I enjoy the exhilarating feeling of knowing our team is playing a direct and substantial role in the unprecedented rapid recovery of such a vital national security asset.
鈥淚 have only held two jobs in my life 鈥 the military and 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区.鈥
It sounds like you bring a military perspective to everything you do. In what ways can 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区 help the DoD conserve resources and overcome logistical challenges?
Our military's real estate and energy footprints are huge 鈥 likely the largest of any single entity in our country. Training and operations, as well as planning, designing and constructing defense facilities and infrastructure, are connected to the health and resilience of the natural environment. At 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区, we lead the way in these areas. We are developing nature-based planning and design criteria, identifying ecological project solutions and exploring strategies for the electrification of base infrastructure and vehicle fleets. We draw out the requirements of each unique project and shape an optimized, unique solution that meets or exceeds the end customer鈥檚 needs. This promotes first-time project success, optimized production and logistical speed across all supported federal agencies.
How can 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区 help prepare installations for mission readiness?
网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区鈥 focus on fully capturing programming and preliminary design requirements, and establishing comprehensive cost and schedule risk analysis programs, can reduce unexpected cost growth while increasing approval of key projects to achieve mission capability. Additionally, working closely with cost experts to monitor local market conditions, prudently applying cost escalation factors and partnering effectively with designers and builders minimizes the risk for all stakeholders, promoting end-to-end project cost and schedule efficiency.
Can you tell us about a memorable military project experience?
Probably the most memorable project experience for me was the culminating activity of my command tour at NAVFAC Midwest (MV), when I had the honor of commissioning the Navy鈥檚 lone enlisted recruitment campus in 2012, the revitalized . I had previously served at NAVFAC MW from 1997 鈥 2000, during which I helped build the budget and initiate the planning and design strategy to revitalize the WW II era 鈥淏oot Camp.鈥 Over the ensuing decade, we rebuilt the campus from the ground up. During my command tour, I was honored to commission the final projects and host an inaugural celebration for the entire campus. Great Lakes is known as the Quarterdeck of the Navy, because every enlisted Sailor must pass through on their journey to service.
鈥淚 was looking for a private sector firm that offered exciting work and global opportunity, but most importantly, held the same values we do in uniform 鈥 honor, service to higher causes and an ethic that values safety and all people. I found that with 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区.鈥
What is the most important factor when it comes to engineering for our military?
The most important factor in successful engineering is selecting the most highly qualified architecture-engineering-construction (AEC) industry partners. With 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区, our military can rest assured that long-term project delivery and mission support success is always the priority. Knowledgeable and experienced program managers and technical teams are critical, as are depth and breadth of subject matter expertise, innovation in engineering, proven delivery performance and consistent talent depth to meet surge requirements.
With more than 30 years living in California behind you, what makes it a great place to live and work?
California was my first active-duty location, serving as Surface Warfare Officer aboard a San Diego-based guided missile cruiser in the mid-1980s. I did five tours here during my military career and met and married my wife here. Two of our three children were born in California, and all three grew up and went to school here 鈥 California is home. We love the weather, the ocean, the beautiful mountain views, wealth of natural beauty and historical landmarks. We are also a big Disneyland family, so being within an hour of the 鈥渉appiest place on earth鈥 is an additional benefit!
What do you enjoy most about being part of #Our网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区?
Not counting my childhood days as a paperboy in Indiana or working in a shoe store during high school, I tell people I have only held two jobs in my life 鈥 the military and 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区. When I transitioned from the military, I told a former Navy mentor I was looking for a private sector firm that offered exciting work and global opportunities. Most importantly, I wanted it to hold the same values we do in uniform 鈥 honor, service to higher causes and an ethic that values safety and all people. I found that with 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区. I enjoy the positive impact of growing the 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区 team, fostering these virtues in our staff and watching with pride as it is paid forward again and again to new team members.
Join #Our网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区 team
What drives you drives us as we work to build a better world 鈥 together. At 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区, every day is an opportunity to make the world better, more connected, more sustainable. We鈥檙e always looking for dynamic and engaged people to join our team. Bring your passion, your ingenuity and your vision.
About the interviewee
Program Manager and retired Navy Captain Jake Washington, AIA, NCARB, F. SAME, brings a wealth of leadership and more than 35 years of facilities and utilities engineering experience to his role at 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区. During his 28 years with Navy Surface Warfare and the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, he held senior leadership positions in command, program management, design and construction management and engineering operations, including executive positions at the local, regional, national and global levels. Since joining 网曝吃瓜黑料一区二区三区, Jake has successfully led multiple large A-E IDIQ contracts supporting the , the , the and clients, including the China Lake Earthquake Recovery Program.
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