Mr. Brian Deters was provided the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award and bidden fair winds and following seas during a SCSTC all-hands onboard Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren, May 25.
“Your exceptional leadership and advocacy for our civilians, for our Sailors, and for our fleet sets the standard for all others to follow,” said SCSTC’s Commodore, Capt. George A. Kessler, Jr. “Our waterfront community, training partners, resource sponsor, program offices, international navies, industry partners, and especially those sitting in this auditorium today can attest that the Navy, our nation, and our partners have benefited from your forty years of dedicated service. Your vision and leadership grew SCSTC into a successful training organization of military, government, and contractor personnel who chart the future of surface combat systems training. Congratulations on a job well done!”
Deters, a native of Teutopolis, Ill., served a distinguished 22-year career in the Navy, retiring from active duty in 2004 as a surface operations limited duty officer.
He served as an enlisted operations specialist aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) and USS Vella Gulf making his way through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer. His Officer assignments include combat information center officer and navigator, USS Yorktown (CG 48) and combat information center officer and operations officer, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). Ashore, he served at AEGIS Training Support Group, Norfolk as an instructor, Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility as a scheduling officer, and AEGIS Training and Readiness Center (ATRC) Detachment San Diego as officer in charge.
Upon retirement, he began his civilian career at SCSTC, formerly Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS). From March 2005 to March 2020, he was the technical support director where he was responsible for future ship class training strategies, Surface Training Advanced Virtual Environment - Combat Systems (STAVE-CS) training simulation / content development, and program objective memorandum requirements.
In March 2020, Deters assumed his current position as ED and is responsible for over 2,500 SCSTC military, government civilian, and contractor personnel at 12 global locations while overseeing training operations and developing future training strategies.
Cmdr. Courtney P. Taft, SCSTC’s executive officer, says Deters has been the driving force behind SCSTC’s numerous accomplishments.
“Brian’s expertise and commitment have been instrumental not only to SCSTC, but also to the combat systems training community,” she said. “He led and executed the Naval Education and Training Command’s Training Delivery Optimization effort, he implemented many Ready Relevant Learning and STAVE-CS innovative technical solutions in fleet concentration areas and our schoolhouses, and in spite of a global pandemic, he was directly responsible for the efforts to ensure SCSTC personnel had the tools and resources they needed to guarantee mission readiness.”
During the all-hands call, Deters addressed personnel one last time.
“I am truly blessed to have worked with an exceptional team who loves the Navy as much as I do,” he said. “What we accomplish side-by-side each day helps prepare warfighters to tactically employ and maintain ship weapons systems. You are a great example of what it means to be a team; taking advantage of each team member’s potential, and working together to develop Sailors into combat systems warfighters who are prepared to fight and win!”
The Dahlgren community has been an extension of Deters’ family for over 18 years and he is not only indispensable to Dahlgren, but to the entire SCSTC domain. He will be greatly missed as he begins his next adventure as a retiree.
“The Navy is the only long-term employer I have had since high school so it is bittersweet to hang up my spurs after so much time,” he said. “That said, another chapter of my life awaits and I am looking forward to spending more time with my family.”
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