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FRONT BURNER

of land. The Shore Enterprise is staffed by approximately
53,000 military and civilian personnel around the world.
“While here, I’ve witnessed firsthand the tremendous
dedication of our civilians and sailors who support the
fleet, warfighters and their families,” said Smith. “It has
been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the
Navy as commander, Navy Installations Command.”
Navy Installations Command is responsible for the Navy’s
Vice Adm. Dixon Smith, center, commander of Navy Installations
Command (CNIC), delivers remarks during the CNIC change of com- operations, maintenance and quality-of-life programs that
mand ceremony on board the Washington Navy Yard. With Smith support the Navy’s fleet, sailors and their families.
are, from left, Rear Adm. Charles Rock, commandant of Naval District “It’s important to understand our CNIC mission,” said
Washington; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson; Vice
Adm. Mary Jackson; and CNIC chaplain Capt. Gary Clore. (Photo by Smith. “We deliver shore-based products and services to
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor N. Stinson, USN) sustain the fleet, enable the fighter and support the family.
This effort directly contributes to Admiral Richardson’s
include transmitter sites, missile ranges, schools, naval vision for maintaining maritime superiority.”
magazines, and fuel storage sites on nearly 1 million acres

Fort Meade Servicewomen Lunch with Vice President’s Wife

ervicewomen shared Pence that military poli-
Stheir experiences in cies have changed to help
the military, discussing servicewomen who are rais-
the challenges and re- ing families create a “work/
wards with Karen Pence, life balance.”
the wife of Vice President “There’s been a lot of
Mike Pence, during an in- positive change,” Adams
formal 45-minute lunch at said, particularly in grant-
Fort Meade’s Freedom Inn ing women more liberal
Dining Facility. pregnancy leave.
Pence visited Fort After lunch, Pence and
Meade, Md., for the first the service members posed
time in March to celebrate for a group photograph that
Women’s History Month, was tweeted on Pence’s
and the lunch was part of Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, speaks with a group of service- official Twitter account.
the ceremonies honoring the women about their experiences in the military during lunch at the Freedom She also posed with service
occasion. Inn Dining Facility in March as part of a celebration of Women’s History members for cellphone pho-
Before meeting the ser- Month at Fort Meade. tographs and selfies.
vicewomen, Pence toured the “I just felt it was very nice
installation and had a briefing with are in the military.” [of] her to take the time to visit us,”
Garrison Commander Col. Tom Rick- Pence and the servicewomen, said Spc. Marisa Tortolano of the
ard, Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. who represented a variety of ranks 780th Military Intelligence Brigade.
Brian Cullen and Mary Staab, chief in all five service branches, discussed “I thought it was really good and
of the Directorate of Plans, Training, several topics ranging from the ben- productive [of] her to ask what we
Mobilization and Security. efits of physical fitness training and thought about things and take it
“For me, this wasn’t even so much the educational opportunities of- back to the White House.”
a policy priority,” Pence said after the fered in the military, to the efforts Tortolano said Pence’s visit was
lunch. “Mrs. [Melania] Trump asked of senior-ranking women to mentor not “all about publicity.” Instead, it
me to do something with women for women in the junior ranks. was “having that one-on-one discus-
this month of March. I just imme- The servicewomen either volun- sion that was much more personal.”
diately said I want to do something teered to attend the lunch or were Before preparing to leave, Pence
for women in the military. selected by their commands. reflected on her visit.
“Our son is in the military and During a discussion at lunch “This was very enjoyable,” she
just got married, so I want to do about the challenges women face said. “ … It was humbling and inspir-
something for female spouses, but in the military, Navy Cmdr. Audrey ing today to meet these women.”
I also wanted to spend a day or two Adams of Headquarters U.S.10th —GFS
reaching out to women who actually Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command told

6 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • MAY 2017