SAN DIEGO—Sixteen apprentices from the Southwest Regional Apprentice Program graduated on Thursday, June 9, during a ceremony at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, California. The graduates represented three commands and five trades with 75 percent graduating with a grade point average at or above 3.5. In addition to receiving their journey worker certificates from both the Department of the Navy and Department of Labor, they all earned their Certificate of Proficiency in Leadership and Supervision from Southwestern Community College.
This is the third graduating class since the four-year program opened its doors in 2010. The Southwest Regional Apprentice Program is a partnership among Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington; Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego; Fleet Readiness Center Southwest at Naval Air Station North Island, California; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine; and Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California.
During the evening’s festivities, three graduates were recognized: Lauren Thomas, PNS marine machinery mechanic, for selection as the class speaker; Michael Ayres, PSNS & IMF pipefitter, who had the highest cumulative grade point average of 4.0 earning him the scholastic achievement award; and Lisa Brown, SWRMC marine electrician, as the Apprentice of the Year.
Capt. Timothy Pfannenstein, Commanding Officer Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. Graduates and guests heard terms such as challenges, uncertainty, legacy, greatness and success used to tell the apprenticeship journey over the past four years.
“You have made it and you should be proud of your accomplishment,” said Pfannenstein. “Greatness is not easily achieved but, make no mistake about it, greatness is exactly what you have reached.”
This ceremony, the final piece of the apprenticeship journey, enables these graduates — these skilled, journey-level mechanics — to fulfill their roles supporting fleet maintenance.