Navy Restores Everett Maintenance Activity to Bolster Fleet Readiness

"Today, we expand our effort here in Everett-restoring a critical element of how we develop our people, sustain our warships and generate ready forces for the Fleet." said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Joe Cahill, commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific. "SIMA Everett will give Sailors the opportunity to build technical expertise through hands-on work, focused training, and continuous collaboration with experienced maintainers, civilians and industry partners."

SIMA Everett follows the reestablishments of SIMA Norfolk in June, SIMA San Diego in May and SIMA Mayport in September. The activities emphasize technical assistance and hands-on training to help Sailors troubleshoot, repair and sustain shipboard systems; top priorities for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).

"Today, our Sailors and civilians bring SIMA Everett to life and begin closing a critical gap in our combat readiness. I believe in what we are doing here and at our SIMAs across the Navy," said U.S. Navy Adm. James W. Kilby Vice Chief of Naval Operations. "We are reviving our self-sufficiency and organic technical expertise. The CNO's vision of the Foundry is everything we do to generate combat power before our Sailors and ships are called to fight. SIMA Everett is the Foundry in action."

U.S. Navy Cmdr. David Ingel, the officer in charge of SIMA Everett, discussed the importance of restoring maintenance capabilities in the region and the role of practical training in developing Sailors' confidence and technical knowledge of their equipment.

"Having spent my career at sea, I know firsthand that a warship's greatest strength is not just its weapons or technology, but the Sailors who know how to keep it in the fight," said Ingel. "At SIMA Everett, we are building more than a maintenance organization. We are establishing a Foundry dedicated to forging maintenance and repair warriors-Sailors with the technical mastery, confidence and determination to troubleshoot, repair and sustain their own warships."

As the command officially opens its doors, leadership is focused on building a dedicated team ready to tackle the waterfront's maintenance challenges and leave a lasting legacy of self-sufficiency.

"My vision is to create an enduring culture of pride, ownership and self-sufficiency that is passed from one generation of Sailors to the next," said Ingel. "The true measure of our success will be the generations of Sailors who carry this warrior mindset forward, fundamentally transforming how our Navy maintains, repairs, and fights its ships. That is the legacy we intend to build."

CNSP's mission is to support combatant commanders and Navy component commanders by providing combat-ready Naval Surface Forces which are forward deployable, fully trained, properly manned, capably equipped, well maintained, and combat-sustainable.

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