Photo By Michael DiCicco | Kirk Nelson took over as director of the Installation and Environment Division late...... read more read more
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QUANTICO, Va. - Kirk Nelson’s experience in construction planning has prepared him in more ways than one to lead Quantico’s Installation and Environment Division. His last job in Naples, Italy, was with Naval Facilities Engineering Command, which handles the Marine Corps’ large-scale construction projects.
Earlier work as a contractor for the National Park Service familiarized him with the Quantico area when he worked on a water distribution project at neighboring Prince William National Forest.
Between those jobs, he worked for NAVFAC Headquarters; Commander, Naval Installations; and the Public Works Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
“He’s worked with the Marine Corps before, so he’s no stranger,” said Joe Provenzano, longtime deputy director of the I&E Division. “He understands the Marine Corps, and he understands working on a Marine Corps base.” He added that Nelson’s familiarity with the policies and personnel of NAVFAC and Headquarters Marine Corps make him “eminently qualified” for his new position.
Nelson said he enjoys the close-knit feel of the Marine Corps and the organizations that handle its facilities.
“It’s small enough that you can get your hands around everything,” he said, noting that he can contact people he knows at other installations to share ideas for tackling various challenges. “I feel like it’s a great team.”
On Nov. 19, Nelson replaced Carmelo Melendez as director of I&E Division, formerly known as Facilities Division.
Many of the projects the division is currently handling are long-term plans similar to the work Nelson did as head of planning and real estate at Naval Support Activities Naples, he said. An update to the base master plan is in the works, and the base is also working with the three counties in which it lies to start a joint land use study.
Nelson said the master plan is still in the phase of assessing existing conditions.
“You’ve got to know what you have in place before you throw your requirements at it and see what your deficits are.”
A contractor is still being selected for the joint land use study with surrounding jurisdictions, and Nelson said the project will play an important role in preventing future encroachment on Quantico’s live-fire training capacity. While most installations only have to coordinate with one municipality, he said, “Here we’ve got to work with all three of them to make sure everyone’s needs are met.”
On the smaller-scale and more immediate level, several Marine Corps Training and Education Command campuses aboard the base are in various stages of realizing their area plans for redevelopment. These include The Basic School, Officer Candidates School, Marine Corps University and Weapons Training Battalion.
Nelson said projects like these provide an immediate gratification that writing policy at headquarters does not.
“You can see progress,” he said. “You can see it making a change for the better.”
He said all planning is carried out with the mission in mind, for example, arranging facilities in ways that minimize travel time and make campuses walkable.
“I like to see where we can help. We’re here to help the Marines.”
Provenzano pointed out that Pendleton, where Nelson put in six years that ended with him working as deputy public works officer, is considerably larger than Quantico and has environmental regulations that are at least as stringent, giving him valuable relevant experience.
“He brings a lot to the fight,” Provenzano said.
— Writer: mdicicco@quanticosentryonline.com
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2012 15:57 |
| Story ID: | 99431 |
| Location: | QUANTICO , VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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