Capt. Darius Banaji relieved Rear Adm. Louis V. Cariello as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Atlantic in a ceremony held at NAVFAC Atlantic’s Lafayette River Complex, Norfolk, July 27. Rear Adm. Bret J. Muilenburg, commander, NAVFAC and chief of Civil Engineers, presided over the ceremony and was the guest speaker.
Muilenburg paid tribute to not only the outgoing Commander, but to the entire command saying, “There is no greater center of mass for NAVFAC expertise than this group right here at Lafayette Annex.”
Muilenburg praised Cariello for his dedication and passionate leadership, producing important achievements. In particular, Muilenburg cited work done to achieve the Secretary of the Navy’s goal of 1 GW of renewable energy. He also enumerated NAVFAC Atlantic’s execution of $12 billion of facilities planning and design, construction and support, as well as the planning and execution of more than $160 million in projects supporting Aegis Ashore, the land-based component of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.
“Rear Adm. Cariello was responsible for more than 13,000 people in six Navy regions around the globe, supporting every Navy and Marine Corps base from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf in the east,” said Muilenburg . “Additionally, Adm. Cariello has re-established additional duty as the fleet civil engineer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, charged with re-establishing [NAVFAC Atlantic’s] connection to the fleet on shore matters. You must be exhausted!”
Cariello’s next assignment will be as director, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division (OPNAV N45) at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
Banaji comes to NAVFAC Atlantic from Force Maritime Headquarters, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. “Today the Navy grants me yet another opportunity, and I intend to make good on my obligation in return,” promised Banaji . “NAVFAC Atlantic and our facilities engineering commands play a vital role along with our contracted partners in the delivery of products and services to our Navy and Marine Corps customers and that is precisely what we must continue to do and do it brilliantly,” said Banaji . “We will remain keenly focused on the value we bring to Navy readiness ashore and our agility to adapt to changing Fleet and Marine Corps requirements.” Banaji is a native of Bellevue, Washington and is a 1986 graduate of the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. Banaji received his commission as an ensign in May 1987 after completion of Officer Candidate School. He earned a Master of Science in civil and environmental engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and completed the Executive Management Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.