NAVSUP WSS Communications Boot Camp

Photo By Matthew Jones | NAVSUP WSS Logo  

PHILADELPHIA, PA, UNITED STATES

08.22.2022

Story by Matthew Jones 

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support

The NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support communications team held its third Communications Boot Camp on Aug. 3, as part of its continuing effort to improve communications across the command.
NAVSUP WSS commander, Rear. Adm. Ken Epps, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of effective communication. “Communication is the thing that—especially in large organizations—helps keep us together and allows us to transmit messaging and intent,” Epps told the budding communicators. “It’s my hope that this course gives attendees the proper tools to communicate in a way that ensures messaging is aligned across the NAVSUP WSS leadership spectrum.”
Following the commander’s introduction, students were given an overview of the command’s mission and current Naval Sustainment System (NSS) initiatives in which NAVSUP WSS is heavily involved: NSS-Supply, NSS-Aviation and NSS-Shipyard.
Kelly Luster, director of the NAVSUP WSS office of corporate communications, led the next lesson on communicating the command’s mission externally, communicating in a virtual environment and communicating with vendors. Luster explained to the class that nearly every interaction the students have with external stakeholders is an opportunity to send additional messages about their role, their department, and the command.
“The effective use of messaging is something you see all the time without realizing it,” Luster said. “After this class, you won’t look at interviews on the news the same way again.”
The third lesson taught the students how to effectively use NAVSUP WSS’ key themes and command messages to speak with one voice as advocates and spokespeople for the command. NAVSUP WSS vice commander Lynn Kohl also spoke about the effectiveness of messaging during the leadership roundtable portion of the class, which also featured Capt. Shannon Walker, NAVSUP WSS deputy commander for aviation, and John Soracco, NAVSUP WSS chief logistician for aviation.
“Messaging is really helping our command and NAVSUP in general maintain a recognizable presence throughout the Navy and among the Department of Defense leadership as well,” Kohl said.
The class also featured a series of practical exercises designed to enable the students to effectively respond to several scenarios while incorporating command messaging.
The NAVSUP WSS Communications Boot Camp is offered three to four times each year and is open to all NAVSUP WSS employees.
NAVSUP WSS is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor and family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsupwss, and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

• Date Taken: 08.22.2022
• Date Posted: 08.22.2022 11:53
• Story ID: 427758
• Location: PHILADELPHIA, PA, US