On Sept. 16, 2013, shortly after 8:00 a.m., a great tragedy hit the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters building when the Navy contractor Aaron Alexis entered and killed 12 people while wounding four more – including two police officers.
A year later, Washington Navy Yard employees met to remember the lives of co-workers, friends and loved ones during a short, 8:00 a.m. ceremony on the base.
Attended by more than 2,000 Navy Yard employees, the purposely low-key ceremony featured remarks from both Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert.
Though the event was designed to memorialize the tragedy, each of the speakers highlighted how much the command has achieved in the wake of the shooting.
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the largest of the United States Navy’s five “systems commands.” NAVSEA consists of four shipyards, nine “warfare centers” (two undersea and seven surface), four major shipbuilding locations and the NAVSEA headquarters, located at the Washington Navy Yard, in Washington D.C.
NAVSEA’s primary objective is to engineer, build and support the U.S. Navy’s fleet of ships and its combat systems. NAVSEA accounts for one quarter of the Navy’s entire budget, with more than 150 acquisition programs under its oversight.
[mappress]