Photo By Natasha Waldron Anthony | Patrick Sedberry, NAVFAC Washington deputy public works officer, Naval Research Laboratory... read more read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Patrick Sedberry’s three-decade career journey from high voltage electrician in Mississippi to Deputy Public Works Officer at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C. exemplifies the transformative power of public service dedication. Sedberry, who is attached to NRL through the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington, found his calling in civil service and currently oversees critical facilities operations at one of the Navy’s most prestigious research institutions.
“I was drawn to public works because I wanted to be part of something bigger than me and support the warfighter,” Sedberry explained. “My friends all joined the military and with no high school diploma or General Education Development certificate I was ineligible to join. But despite that, my purpose is steadfast as a civil servant to support the Department of War.”
Sedberry’s remarkable career has taken him from Spain and Romania to Cuba and Japan, providing him with a unique global perspective on facilities management. His international experience has shaped his leadership philosophy around empowerment and trust.
“I have learned over the years that there are many ways to accomplish the mission no matter where in the world you are at and if you empower your team members by giving them the tools to set them up for success they will surprise you,” he noted. “As a leader I have learned throughout my career that trust and respect go hand in hand; without them people will not follow you.”
Now overseeing four major divisions at NRL—facilities, maintenance, environmental and production—Sedberry emphasizes the critical importance of preventative maintenance in support of cutting-edge national security research.
“I learned during my initial years working for the government to always look for the weak link in the system and to build projects and make repairs to achieve the mission,” Sedberry said. “The preventative maintenance program was the heartbeat of the public works department. Without it the systems and assets will not perform as designed and will impact the mission.”
His leadership approach centers on promoting purpose-driven teams. “Building a team of professionals with a purpose and having them understand why we do what we do to support the warfighter, so they return home to their families at the end of the day is how I prioritize to ensure we keep performing,” he explained.
For emerging professionals in naval facilities, Sedberry offers hard-earned wisdom: “The best advice I can give to someone is treat everyone with respect, have integrity and do whatever you can do to support the mission. Go where you are best needed in your career field.”
His leadership philosophy draws from a simple but powerful principle: “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. I embrace this because every day brings new issues and challenges. But I believe as a team, we can figure them out together. One team, one fight day by day.”
Outside his demanding role, Sedberry serves as a Civil Air Patrol Standardization/Evaluation Check Pilot and flight instructor, teaching cadets and senior members, demonstrating his continued commitment to mentorship and service beyond his professional duties.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2025 06:52 |
| Story ID: | 549497 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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