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Date: October 29, 2007
Picatinny hosts homecoming ceremony for new Navy employees
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PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Officials here hosted a small homecoming ceremony here Oct. 22 for a former Picatinny resident who had not returned home for nearly 50 years.
Picatinny Arsenal Commanding General Brig. Gen. William N. Phillips and Armament Research, Development and Engineering Director Dr. Joseph A. Lannon welcomed the United States Navy back to the installation during a short, lunchtime ceremony that concluded with an office ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Noting that the Navy previously performed an important mission here from 1891 to1960, Phillips welcomed the service back to "Team Picatinny."
"We're honored to have you back," he said. "I know the Navy is going to add even greater value to what we do here to support the Warfighter."
U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen joined Phillips and Lannon in greeting Navy representatives Rear Admiral Archer M. Macy Jr. and David L. Rogers.
Macy commands the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va., and is the Department of Defense executive manager for explosive ordnance disposal technology and training.
Rogers is transition manager for the Naval Surface Weapons Center Dahlgren Detachment Picatinny, the name of the organization the Navy is establishing here as a result of the 2005 base realignment and closure act.
"Anyone who has been to Iraq and Afghanistan knows that there has to be jointness between the services," Frelinghuysen said. "General Phillips and I are delighted that this initiative is coming to fruition."
Lannon pointed out that Picatinny employees still refer to the area that the Navy once occupied here as "Navy Hill" in his comments. "We're delighted you’ve returned, and we look forward to many fruitful years of partnership as together we support the joint Warfighter," he said.
Rogers, who arrived at Picatinny in late August, said he is looking forward to standing up the new organization and working with the Army. "I'm very proud to be here," he said.
Following their remarks, all five individuals took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance of the Navy organization's new office located on the fourth floor of the Lt. Col. Francis Parker building.
Under BRAC 2005, Picatinny is destined to become the DOD joint center of expertise for guns and munitions. The Navy has added seven employees since the BRAC. Eventually, it will employ more than 200 personnel at Picatinny.
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