Naval Amenities Engineering Techniques Command (NAVFAC) introduced Laura Lake, R.A., because the distinguished recipient of the NAVFAC Architect, Panorama Architect, and Inside Designer (ALAID) of the Yr Award for 2024.
“I’m happy to announce that Laura Lake from NAVFAC Southeast was chosen because the 2024 NAVFAC Architect, Panorama Architect & Inside Designer of the Yr,” mentioned NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey. “Her management, experience, and dedication has had a direct and optimistic affect on NAVFAC and its Architect, Panorama Architect & Inside Designer Neighborhood.”
Lake, a senior architect inside NAVFAC Southeast’s Planning, Design & Development directorate, serves predominantly because the design supervisor for a number of important army development tasks. All year long, she has developed eight complete Design Supervisor (DM) coaching modules, delivered coaching classes at DM boards, and offered mentorship and steering to junior architects and members of the design group.
“Laura epitomizes the best qualities of our neighborhood of technical professionals,” mentioned Capt. Miguel Dieguez, NAVFAC Southeast commanding officer. “Her innate capability to suppose critically, stay agile, construct productive relationships, and talk a standard imaginative and prescient of the specified consequence is what make her so particular and a useful member of our group. However past her spectacular mission portfolio, Laura is a devoted mentor and consummate teammate who helps to make NAVFAC a greater group every day.”
Lake led the administration of the Air Drive’s Weapons Era Facility mission at Barksdale Air Drive Base, Louisiana, involving nuclear certification, high-risk price/schedule elements, and complex phasing. This mission, essential for restoring nuclear functionality to the bottom, acquired an ideal 30/30 complexity ranking on the NAVFAC Undertaking Complexity Matrix. By means of an revolutionary development award package deal, Lake efficiently accelerated the mission schedule, reworking it from eight months not on time to 6 months forward of the mission’s required completion date.
“All the NAVFAC enterprise is saturated with large expertise, so being chosen as 2024 ALAID of the Yr is an unimaginable achievement,” mentioned Lake. “I’ve all the time felt nice gratification in with the ability to play an element within the help of our army, so for my contributions to be acknowledged as commendable is kind of rewarding.”
Lake additionally serves because the senior architect/design supervisor for the Navy’s Nuclear Energy Coaching Unit (NPTU) simulator and coaching facility enlargement at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The NPTU mission includes wetlands, endangered species, in-water development, a number of buildings, roadway enhancements affecting on-base housing, and threat class (5) buildings in extremely seismic areas susceptible to liquefaction. This mission requires shut coordination with the Air Drive’s 628th Civil Engineering Squadron, on a really excessive precedence Navy mission.
“I’ve had distinctive experiences from working with three completely different DoD branches of companies (Air Drive, Army, and Navy) throughout my 16 years right here at NAVFAC Southeast,” mentioned Lake. “I’ve realized fairly a bit from each, however am most excited to be working my present mega army development mission for NPTU in Charleston, valued at greater than $300 million.”
Lake, daughter of a retired Civil Engineer Corps officer, initially pursued a profession in training after highschool however later fulfilled her childhood dream of turning into an architect. Regardless of preliminary challenges, she returned to high school and graduated on the high of her class, reflecting on her journey as “essentially the most rewarding, and on the similar time, essentially the most terrifying factor I ever did.” Throughout her grasp’s program, she was the only real lady in all her lessons, highlighting her willpower and resilience. Lake earned a Bachelor’s diploma in Secondary Training from the College of Maryland and a Grasp’s in Structure from the College of South Florida.
“Life classes I’ve realized over time had been principally developed previous to me turning into an architect,” mentioned Lake. “I actually consider that essential considering, perseverance and a very good work ethic will translate to something you do. Should you do what you want, and do it properly, there may be reward simply within the doing.”
In December 2023, she was honored because the NAVFAC Southeast (Echelon IV) ALAID of the Yr for 2024, progressing to compete for this prestigious accolade after being chosen. Nominees from 12 NAVFAC instructions underwent analysis primarily based on their accomplishments of their area, civic engagement, skilled registration, ongoing training, awards, skilled society involvement, and technical experience.
Born in Port Lyautey (now Kenitra), Morocco, Lake presently calls Jacksonville, Florida, house. Her pursuits span from paintings portray and DIY house renovations to System 1 racing and having fun with blues and traditional rock music.
NAVFAC Southeast oversees the planning and design of facility tasks, providing important companies in contracting, development, leasing, environmental administration, upkeep, and contingency help, all of that are essential for assembly the wants of the Navy and the Division of Protection throughout the Southeast Space of Duty. Working from its Jacksonville workplace, NAVFAC Southeast is answerable for managing operations throughout Navy installations spanning from Charleston, South Carolina to Corpus Christi, Texas, and increasing southward to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. NAVFAC professionals are additionally engaged within the acquisition and disposition of actual property, facility administration, and upkeep on all Navy bases within the Southeast (SE) area, whereas concurrently supervising public-private enterprise (PPV) housing for army households.
