SWFPAC1

T he strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) is a Navy
submarine base in the Puget Sound, south of Seattle.

Much of the area on the base, and most of what they do there,
is highly classified. Sandi & I had to get pre-approved security
clearance to be allowed on the base for my presentation.

One of their primary work groups consists of 1,400 people who
secure and service the submarines. This is a very diverse group,
consisting of 19-year-old Marines, Navy sailors in their mid-20's,
Navy & Marine officers in their 30's & 40's, and civilian government
employees in their 50's & 60's.
It was this group that had their yearly kick-off event, which they
call a "Safety Stand-up."

Safety is a fundamentally important issue each year, and so it
is always the main focus of the annual kick-off meeting.

I n addition to three presentations by their military leaders,
including the battalion commander (who seemed like he was sent
over from "central casting), this year they hired me to close their
"Safety Stand-up" with one of my entertaining keynote speeches.

In a lengthy pre-event phone discussion, the group Captain asked
me to create a tailored 50-minute keynote speech on teamwork
and accountability.

I received a standing ovation from the group, and they're already
talking actively about bringing me back for another meeting the
safety leaders are planning.

This is a full-size submarine buried in the Ground on the SWFPAC
base, that they use as a training facility. I'm standing next to
SWFPAC Safety Professional, Mike Curtis, who is 6' 8" tall, and
is the person primarily responsible for convincing the group
leadership to take a chance and bring in an outside speaker for
this year's kick-off meeting (which they've never done before.)

He searched on the internet for two weeks for the kind of speaker
he wanted for this meeting. In his words, "someone who could
deliver a valuable operational message on teamwork and
accountability, who could also entertain a very diverse group
of people."

After two weeks of searching online he gave up, thinking they
wouldn't bring in an outside speaker, after all. The next day
a former client of mine -- from 10 years ago! -- who is one of
Mike's friends, told him I was the speaker he was looking for.

I'm excited to say, it looks like I'll be doing more work for the
SWFPAC group.

ATTENDEE FEEDBACK included this comment emailed to the
group Captain:

"This year's Safety Stand-up was the best meeting of it's kind
that I have attended at this command in the last 32 years."