Gulfport CB earns foundation award

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Active duty, Reserve and veteran Seabees came together with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the founding of the Seabees here March 7, which included with a ceremonial wreath laying at the Seabee Memorial at Arlington Memorial Cemetery. This year's Seabee Ball marked the 78th anniversary of the Construction Battalion; 53rd anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps, and 178th anniversary of NAVFAC, which was established in August 1842 as the Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks. During the anniversary celebration, two Seabees were recognized for outstanding achievements by the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation. One of the winners was a regional recipient of the 2019 Rear Adm. Lewis B. Combs award. Senior Chief Equipment Operator (SCW/EXW) Matthew Dooley of NMCB-11. Dooley served as operations chief responsible for the operational oversight of 600 forward deployed Seabees. He displayed exceptional leadership as he led Seabee operations during the Naval Station Rota, Spain, deployment, executing six active construction projects valued at $15.3 million in support of Exercise Sea Breeze, and Juniper Cobra. Additionally, he managed six work centers with more than 7,000 pieces of equipment at three deployment sites throughout the INDOPACOM area of operations. (Source: NAVFAC 03/11/20) Gulf Coast Note: Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ELEVEN is a Seabee Battalion specializing in contingency construction, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance. The Battalion is home-ported in Gulfport, Mississippi. https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112333