NSWC Port Hueneme Commander gives keynote address

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City invited NSWC Port Hueneme Commander Capt. William DeBow to be keynote speaker at the command’s commemorative Black History Month event held Feb. 1, 2012.

Expanding upon this year’s Black History Month theme of “Black Women in American Culture and History,” DeBow focused on the achievements of African American men and women throughout the nation’s military history.

“Black history month captures the essence of Navy core values and highlights the individual initiative, integrity, responsibility and the wherewithal to create success,” said DeBow. “This embodies not only black history, but Navy and American history. It is this success that leads to the greatness of the United States of America.”

While presenting a timeline of military advances with civil rights, DeBow mentioned a particularly poignant achievement involving his father, who was part of an all African American pursuit squadron for the United States known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Growing up with a man that helped pave the way towards desegregation in the military has inspired DeBow to make diversity a personal goal for his command.

“I have grown up with a strong appreciation for diversity,” he said. “My father was part of the first class of Tuskegee Airmen. His dedication and unwavering service to our country has inspired me to take on the challenge of ensuring NSWC Port Hueneme is aware of the importance of diversity within the Navy and throughout the world.”

DeBow went on to describe specific initiatives he enacted to embrace diversity, including establishing a management diversity team that enables those with targeted disabilities and actively hires wounded service members through the Wounded Warrior program.

“I personally feel it is important to promote equality and diversity throughout the workforce,” he added. “I am particularly proud that NSWC Port Hueneme is a diverse organization that welcomes all individuals each with their own background, culture, thoughts and ideas. That is what our nation is about and what our military continues to protect every day.”

NSWC Port Hueneme, commanded by DeBow, is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and provides the United States Navy global fleet with weapon system in-service engineering, logistics, and test and evaluation. NSWC Port Hueneme is located at Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., where it employs more than 1,900 personnel.