Naval Services Engineering Techniques Command (NAVFAC) Southeast Government Officer Capt. Tom Bestafka, a Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officer, was introduced the Legion of Benefit medal together with many items and accolades, June 10, throughout his retirement ceremony on the ceremonial hangar onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, as household, mates and associates gathered to have fun his 26 years of devoted service.
Visitor speaker NAVFAC Southwest Commanding Officer Capt. Michael Oestereicher spoke of Bestafka as a colleague, fellow CEC officer, and pal.
“It’s a giant day and we’re right here to acknowledge Capt. Tom Bestafka and the over 26 years of service he’s given the Navy and the nation,” stated Oestereicher. “When Tom requested me to be his visitor speaker, I used to be humbled, honored and to be sincere just a little frightened if I used to be as much as the duty to do that wonderful Navy household the justice they deserve.”
Oestereicher went on to share a number of of Bestafka’s profession highlights together with being chosen to function the flag assist and deputy government assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4) and deploying to Afghanistan, serving because the Detachment Officer in Cost, Naval Cellular Building Battalion (NMCB) THREE.
Oestereicher famous that Bestafka’s closing job was most applicable for him to serve NAVFAC Southeast as the chief officer. He introduced all of his previous expertise which helped him lead a 2,000 plus worker group. “He’s invested in folks, he’s an administrative tyrant, which I consider to be an important high quality that others will admire later of their profession.”
“There is just one factor that’s tougher than serving three years as an XO, that’s three years as a CO,” claimed Oestereicher
NAVFAC Southeast Commanding Officer Capt. Miguel Dieguez introduced Bestafka with the Legion of Benefit medal (Gold Star in Lieu of Second Award) for exceptionally meritorious conduct within the efficiency of excellent service from July 2019 to June 2022.
The quotation learn Bestafka instituted a security tradition by means of revolutionary applications, assorted communication, and fixed oversight which have been highlights of the distinguished honor of incomes the Fiscal 12 months 2021 Chief of Naval Operations Security Award, Medium Industrial class. This alongside along with his extraordinary management, eager judgment and constant devotion to responsibility uphold the very best traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
“Throughout three years as XO, your inspiring management, uncompromising devotion to accountability, and dedication to excellence ensured the profitable supply of NAVFAC services throughout an exceptionally dynamic interval of change, personnel challenges, and financial pressures,” stated Dieguez of Bestafka’s management. “Your contributions may have a profound and lasting optimistic impression on infrastructure readiness throughout the Area and considerably contributed to NAVFAC Southeast’s phenomenal success throughout your three years right here.”
A letter to Bestafka from the State of New Jersey’s Governor Phillip D. Murphy said, “You’ve demonstrated dedication to the folks of the USA and established a normal of professionalism that shall be tough to equal. You bravely served our nation throughout a number of historic occasions, comparable to working one block east of Floor Zero throughout 9/11 in 2001 and having “boots on the bottom” in Afghanistan when the USA Forces killed Osama Bin Laden on Could 2, 2011.”
“I need to first thank God, with out whom none of that is doable and with out whom I’m nothing,” stated Bestafka.
Bestafka thanked his household for his or her help over his profession, a profession that concerned 13 strikes and 4 deployments. He’s excited to spend as a lot time along with his spouse and children this summer season as he can till he strikes ahead with the subsequent chapter of his retirement.
Bestafka defined that the retirement ceremony shouldn’t be about him, “it’s about me thanking as many individuals as I presumably can who’ve helped me, in some methods small, in some giant, to be the person I’m at this time and to be acknowledged in a roundabout way for my small contributions to this nation and the Navy that I really like a lot.”
His closing feedback have been directed towards the army and civilians at NAVFAC Southeast. “The underside line is that the issues we do each day matter, and what issues is that we do it effectively to help our warfighting brothers and sisters.”
