Erick Abbott became the first Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest apprentice to complete the NAVFAC Southwest Apprenticeship program and receive a certificate of completion Sept. 3 during an all hands meeting at Public Works Department (PWD) Monterey.
"Erik Abbott has been a stellar performer as an apprentice and will become a fine journeyman for NAVFAC Southwest," said Jerry Thomas, NAVFAC Southwest Human Resources specialist and Apprentice program administrator.
Abbott completed the program as an air conditioning equipment mechanic apprentice Aug. 23 in accordance with the basic standards of apprenticeship established by the Secretary of Labor and NAVFAC Southwest. Abbott completed over 584 hours of education over a period of three years at San Jose Community College with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning trade. Abbott also worked more than 6,000 hours in on-the-job training.
The certificate of completion came from the Department of Labor (DOL). Lt. Cmdr. Oscar Antillon, NAVFAC Southwest public works officer at PWD Monterey, presented the certificate.
The apprenticeship program has prepared Abbott for successful performance in his career field. Abbott is the first of many apprentices to graduate from the NAVFAC Southwest program.
"The apprenticeship program at NAVFAC Southwest is revolutionizing the way work is being performed at NAVFAC Southwest," said Thomas. "The utilization of the apprenticeship program by NAVFAC Southwest is demonstrating to be an effective method for replacing lost workforce with well trained, capable employees who could accomplish the workload while keeping up to speed with the latest in technological changes."
NAVFAC Southwest started hiring apprentices in January 2011 and has hired 113 apprentices to date in 12 different trades. NAVFAC Southwest has apprentices working at PWDs in San Diego, China Lake, Ventura, Lemoore, and Monterey.
Participants who successfully complete all program requirements will be issued a nationally recognized certificate from the Department of Labor (DOL) as skilled journeyman in their respective field.