Commander, NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Participates in Temple University MESA Event

By Margaret Kenyon-Ely, Naval Supply Systems Command Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Weapon Systems Support (WSS); participated in a holiday event celebrating the first graduating participants enrolled in Temple University's Math, Science and Engineering Achievement (MESA) program Dec. 9, in Philadelphia.

Rear Adm. John G. King addressed the MESA students during his opening remarks.

"Over the past couple of months, several NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support U.S. Navy Supply Corps Officers have taught Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), courses to MESA students such as yourselves, and these officers will continue to do so," said King. "We are all committed to the continued success of this program, especially as the U.S. Navy needs our future workforce to be skilled in these all-important areas."

The event, which also featured the announcement of the growing number of schools to be involved in the program in 2012, was attended by about 30 students and their families, representing six middle and two high schools in the Philadelphia region.

The 2012 Philadelphia MESA program will boast 400 students who represent 10 middle and five high schools in the area. By next December 2012, the program is projected to grow to 4,000 students state wide, with 75 percent of those students being from Philadelphia.

"By seizing the initiative, NAVSUP is now in a leadership role that will export this model of corporation to other DoD commands and their partner universities across Pennsylvania and the rest of the country," said Lt. Cmdr. Andre Sadowski, who is coordinating the NAVSUP WSS involvement in the program.

A field activity of the Naval Supply Systems Command, NAVSUP WSS is the U.S. Navy's supply chain manager providing worldwide support to the aviation, surface ship, and submarine communities. NAVSUP WSS provides Navy, Marine Corps, joint and allied forces with products and services that deliver combat capability through logistics. There are more than 2,000 civilian and military personnel employed at its two Pennsylvania sites. The NAVSUP WSS Philadelphia site supports aircraft, while its Mechanicsburg site supports ships and submarines.