NRCC Naples celebrates its 30th anniversary - Naval Regional Contracting Center

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Courtney Turner

Naval Regional Contracting Center Naples (NRCC Naples) celebrated its 30th anniversary Sept. 5 at the command headquarters. RADM Michael L. Holmes, Commander Fleet Air Mediterranean, guest speaker, addressed employees and invited guests. In his address RADM Holmes praised NRCC for its leadership in regional contracting and satisfying customer requirements.

NRCC Naples has had an exciting and dynamic history throughout its 30 years of operation. Established to improve fleet and base contracting support in the Mediterranean, NRCC Naples has fulfilled that mission, and more, to assure cost effective and responsive acquisition, logistics, and business management support for today's Navy, both ashore and afloat.

Initially a branch office of the Naval Regional Procurement Office, Philadelphia, in 1972 the current NRCC Naples became an independent NRPO under its major claimant--the Naval Supply Systems Command.

In 1973, NRPO Naples created its first detachment when it assumed responsibility for the NRPO Philadelphia branch office located in London. In 1974, NRPO Naples established a field management division to manage field contracting activities at bases throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

NRPO Naples became the Naval Regional Contracting Office, Naples, in 1978 and in 1982, NRCO Naples became the Naval Regional Contracting Center, Naples.

In 1987, NRCC Naples established a branch office in Bahrain to support the expanding naval presence in Southwest Asia (SWA). When U.S. forces deployed to the Gulf during Desert Shield/Storm, NRCC was the first logistics organization on scene with contingency contracting support throughout SWA. Since then, NRCC Naples has provided on-site support for every major operation in our area of responsibility, including Operation Enduring Freedom in the SWA region, the annual BALTOPS exercise in Northern Europe and Joint Endeavor and Joint Guardian in the former Yugoslavia.

In May 1992, the Bahrain branch office became a detachment with a support office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. NRCC's leadership in husbanding services and contingency contracting was recognized with its appointment in 1996 as Worldwide Program Manager for Husbanding Services and for contracting support for Operations Other Than War (OOTW). NRCC Naples changed major claimants 1997 as it moved to the Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces, Europe.

Today, NRCC is a leader in e-business initiatives for the Navy. From hosting European e-business conferences to utilizing the latest business technology to support customers, NRCC Naples provides "Smarter, Faster, Cheaper" acquisition, logistics, and business management support in the geographical area. That area extends from Iceland to South Africa to Pakistan. NRCC awards contracts for a variety of essential supplies and services including husbanding, base operating support, quality of life improvements, foreign military sales, research and development, spare parts for major weapon systems, and OOTW support.

NRCC Naples provides logistics and e-business management services to fleet and shore support units designed to identify and arrange cost effective mission support. NRCC has established a well-earned reputation for integrating Internet-based programs and other information technology media with innovative processes that add real value to improving and sustaining fleet readiness.

Today's NRCC truly embodies the mission and spirit of the inscription on its plaque--"FOR THE FLEET."

LCDR Courtney Turner received his commission through the University of Illinois ROTC program in 1991. He served aboard the USS Inchon (LPH 12) as Disbursing and Sales Officer. He earned a level II DAWIA certification as a NACO in Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Arlington, Va., and served as Supply Officer on board USS Stout (DDG 55). He earned his M.B.A. through DePaul University Chicago in international finance and marketing.

Lieutenatn Commander Courtney Turner, SC, USN Contingency Contracting Program Manager, Naval Regional Contracting Center Naples, Italy