JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – For many Americans, Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer season, highlighted by backyard barbecues, trips to the beach and pool parties.
For those who took off work today, it can even mean a four-day weekend.
But for Dave Maruska, a contractor with Global Technical Services who serves as facility manager for the 99th Readiness Division headquarters here, the holiday festivities will have to wait one more day.
“There are projects I’m working on, and today is a perfect day to work on long-term projects,” Maruska said this morning at the 99th DIV(R)’s Maj. John P. Pryor Army Reserve Center. “My mission is to make this the best facility on base.”
Maruska came to this position with a varied background to include information technology, finance and accounting, and business processes. While Maruska’s job requires the technical skills to run and maintain a 200,000-square-foot facility, his focus is squarely on customer service.
“The people in this facility are my customers, and I take care of them the way I’d like to be taken care of,” he said. “My satisfaction comes when things get done, the occupants are happy and we put a smile on someone’s face.”
Keeping the facility running properly indirectly affects Soldier and unit readiness as well.
“The occupants here – my customers – need a place where they can get their jobs done,” he explained. “So as long as the facility meets the requirements – which is my job – then they can do their jobs, such as mobilizing Soldiers.
“Whatever is needed, I make sure it’s done,” he continued. “I’m here supporting a two-star headquarters, which is a big deal.”
When not maintaining the 99th DIV(R)’s headquarters facility, Maruska likes to work on his own headquarters – the home he shares with his wife, Sue.
“My wife and I are sprucing up the place. We love to be home; we’ll take on some pretty big projects, remodeling bathrooms and things,” he said. “You get to learn a lot about basic facility infrastructure, and I apply that here.”
Maruska’s job mirrors one of the 99th DIV(R)’s key missions, which is keeping nearly 300 Army Reserve facilities running properly throughout the 13 northeastern states. These facilities help make America’s Army Reserve the most capable, combat-ready and lethal federal reserve force in the nation’s history.
“I never did join the military – that wasn’t in the cards,” Maruska said. “But I like giving back to the government – that’s my way of saying, ‘Thank you’ to those who serve.”
Date Taken: | 08.31.2018 |
Date Posted: | 08.31.2018 11:04 |
Story ID: | 291144 |
Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY, US |
Web Views: | 152 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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