DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled

COMFRC bids FRCSE team farewell

Photo By Victor Pitts | 160428-N-UL949-004 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 28, 2016) Rear Adm. Paul Sohl,...... read more read more

UNITED STATES

04.29.2016

Courtesy Story

Fleet Readiness Center Southeast

Jacksonville, Fla. – Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC), returned to the familiar confines of Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) April 27-29 as part of a farewell tour of sorts before his tenure ends in June.
Many to whom he spoke were old friends. Sohl served as executive officer of FRCSE at Naval Air Station Jacksonville from 2007-09, and commanding officer from 2009-11. After his command tour, he went on to command the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California before taking the helm of Fleet Readiness Centers.
Sohl made stops at FRCSE Detachment Jacksonville, FRCSE Detachment Mayport and Cecil Commerce Center during the week, briefing the workforce on challenges that lie ahead and thanked them for the daily work they perform to keep the military’s aircraft flying.
“You all are so important to the Navy because you get planes back to the fleet,” Sohl told a crowd of workers outside the Jacksonville facility’s F/A-18 line. “You are performing what I believe to be miracles in maintenance and repair. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“I always said the best ideas come from within 50 feet of where the work is being done.”
During his visit, Sohl handed out a trio of Meritorious Civilian Service Medals to recognize Lucas Downard and Gail Eyler at Cecil Commerce Center and Rex Ledford at Mayport. All three were honored for providing critical first aid to save the lives of coworkers.
The admiral also recognized the contributions of his active-duty Sailors and presented several of them with command coins for volunteerism within their divisions and in the local community.
"I came to visit FRCSE to see what you are doing and to reemphasize how very important your mission is in supporting the fleet,” Sohl told FRCSE Detachment Jacksonville Sailors. “Your jobs are crucial to the P-8 Poseidon platform. We need your skill sets to help continue deploying our assets worldwide and keep our missions growing. Thanks for what you do each and every day. You really are making a difference within the FRCSE Enterprise and to our fleet.”
In Jacksonville, Sohl visited with employees at the FRCSE F/A-18 and P-3 lines, manufacturing division and Crinkley Engine Facility April 28. The next day, he stopped by to take part in the retirement ceremony of Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic (AW) Morgan Lemos, who specifically requested his presence because of the impact Sohl made upon him as a young petty officer.
However, perhaps Sohl’s major legacy will be his innovations in integrating FRCSE’s civilian and military workforce. That legacy lives on with operations like the FRCSE hydraulics shop, where Sailors and civilians work alongside each other.
“I’m especially happy to see our civilian artisans working side-by-side with our junior Sailors teaching them what they know,” Sohl said. “Many of our civilians are retiring and it’s crucial that their knowledge is passed on.”
During his tenure as commanding officer of FRCSE, Sohl oversaw the beginning of maintenance work on F/A-18 Super Hornets, and also saw the last S-3B Viking leave the facility. Tremendous strides were made in production, capability, employee safety and environmental stewardship.
The Waterloo, Iowa native was a natural fit as both commanding officer of FRCSE, as well as COMFRC. Sohl earned his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985, followed by a Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University. He deployed as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Enduring Freedom, tallying over 3,200 flight hours in 30 different aircraft.
In August, Sohl will take over for Rear Adm. Jeffrey Penfield as Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force in Norfolk, Virginia. Though Sohl made it clear he will always maintain a fondness for his current role.
“They’re going to be dragging me out of here with scratch marks on my desk,” he said.
Sohl will be succeeded as COMFRC by Capt. Michael Zarkowski, who is currently serving as COMFRC vice commander.