Courtesy Photo | As the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction for OICC Florence operations aboard...... read more read more
As the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction for OICC Florence operations aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, LCDR Allison Pontal, PE, carries the weight of a $2.2 billion portfolio on her shoulders. But she is the first to point out its actually the 70 military, civilian, and contracted engineering and construction professionals carrying that weight - she is only here to support the team. It’s because of this humility and team first attitude Pontal was recognized as the OICC Florence Military Engineer of the Year for fiscal year 2023.
Before Pontal commissioned in the United States Navy, she aspired to be a doctor and looked toward a degree in chemistry at the United States Naval Academy. However, there were only a handful of seats available after graduation, and many of the current students in the program seemed stressed out with the workload. Pontal pivoted to engineering as an alternative. After assessing the wide variety of fields within engineering, she saw something special in the Ocean Engineering program.
“Everyone loved the instructors and the curriculum, everyone seemed interested in program,” said Pontal.
Upon graduating with her degree in Ocean Engineering and commissioning as a pilot in 2010, Pontal learned she in fact did not like flying. She was able to re-designate to the Civil Engineer Corps and in 2011, she deployed with U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) FORTY to Okinawa. She then was assigned to NMCB FOUR and completed a deployment to Africa. Pontal joined Naval Facilities and Engineering Command Northwest in 2013.
“I loved working at Northwest because there are so many things to see and do in the area,” said Pontal.
Pontal was first assigned as the Assistant Public Works Officer at Naval Station Everett for eighteen months before moving to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor’s Public Works Department, where she was a Construction Manager and a warranted contracting officer.
After Northwest, Pontal participated in the Career Intermission Program before reporting in to NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Public Works Department New London at Submarine Base New London, Connecticut in 2017.
“I loved the work in New London. I got my hands into a little bit of everything because I had to know all the tenants and mitigate problems as they arose,” said Pontal. “I found it very fulfilling to work in a customer-facing position.
The lessons Pontal learned at Northwest and with MidLant have guided her to success with OICC Florence.
“Be engaged and ask questions,” said Pontal. “We have a large staff with a mountain of expertise behind them.”
Pontal makes it a point to have genuine conversations with people so she can learn from them and combine everyone’s knowledge base to solve the myriad of problems that can come up in the fast-paced construction environment.
“Not only does it develop me as an officer and professional engineer, it builds relationships so we call work better together,” added Pontal.
“LCDR Pontal takes on challenges and consistently excels as the ROICC,” said CDR J.D. Patton, executive officer, OICC Florence. “She also has remarkable initiative. She doesn’t wait for direction; she swiftly takes action to keep work moving in her entire portfolio.”
Pontal is modest about her success at OICC Florence.
“I can’t do anything without my team and I’ve been so privileged to work alongside some incredible professionals,” said Pontal. “They are the ones teaching me and sharing their knowledge so I can be a better leader for them.”
| Date Taken: | 12.08.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2023 13:56 |
| Story ID: | 459521 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 217 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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