From left, Dr. Pamela Peralta, Director for Contracts and Grants At the University of Guam Office of Research and Sponsored Programs; Dr. Nestor Guades, Assistant Professor for Civil/Structural Engineering with the UOG School of Engineering; Dr. Lee Yudin, Interim Dean of the School of Engineering; are by Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Sharleen Santos Bamba; UOG President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez; Eugene T. Mesa, NAVFAC Marianas Chief Engineer; Maria Garcia, NAVFAC Marianas Construction Director; Jaylynn Valdez, NAVFAC Marianas HR Specialist; and Kendra O. Finklea, NAVFAC Marianas HR Director. The NAVFAC team met with UOG leadership on September 27, 2023, on campus.

Eugene T. Mesa, NAVFAC Marianas Chief Engineer; Maria Garcia, NAVFAC Marianas Construction Director; Jaylyn Valdez, NAVFAC Marianas HR Specialist; and Kendra O. Finklea, NAVFAC Marianas HR Director, recently met with UOG leadership on campus.

"The University of Guam collaborates with industry stakeholders to cultivate a skilled workforce in Guam and across Micronesia," said UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez. "Our goal is to establish additional opportunities for our students to engage in internships that will lead to job placements with NAVFAC and its private and federal partners."

NAVFAC Marianas supports Naval Base Guam, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, and other Department of Defense activities in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It provides more than 400 jobs to civilians and military in Guam and the CNMI.

“NAVFAC has reached out to collaborate with the University of Guam on talent acquisition,” said Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba, Interim Senior Vice President and Provost.

UOG students and alumni have had a good impression on NAVFAC, said Dr. Santos-Bamba.

“They expressed their desire to hire UOG graduates. The UOG graduates that they have on payroll and current students in their internship programs have proven to be well-educated, excellent contributors to their organization, and wonderful representatives of our institution,” Dr. Santos-Bamba added.

NAVFAC also supports UOG and the School of Engineering's efforts to secure ABET accreditation, Dr. Santos-Bamba said.

“UOG and NAVFAC have agreed to continue conversations and share information about the types of careers that NAVFAC has to offer, the positions that they will be announcing, and input on how to prepare our students for a variety of professions,” Dr. Santos-Bamba said.

During NAVFAC representatives’ recent visit to UOG, they indicated it seeks to hire engineers, administrators, supervisors in various departments, archaeologists, communication specialists, construction managers, project managers, and IT professionals.

Dr. Nestor Guades, Assistant Professor for Civil/Structural Engineering with the UOG School of Engineering; Dean Lee Yudin; and Dr. Pamela Peralta, Director for Contracts and Grants, also joined President Enriquez in welcoming the visitors from NAVFAC. 

“We discussed the internship programs of NAVFAC for UOG School of Engineering students,” Dr. Guades said.

UOG and its School of Engineering are seeking ABET accreditation that will boost the integrity of the program and its alumni’s chances of getting solid engineering jobs. 

Recently, NAVFAC Marianas acting HR Director Bharti Hemlani, participated in a panel during President Enriquez’s recent listening session with community stakeholders. The listening session and others like it will help the University sharpen its Tulos Mo’na Strategic Plan. Tulos Mo’na is the University’s island-centric, collective effort to propel UOG forward under President Enriquez.