© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

Zalaskus reports on Naval Weapons Station
Commanding officer provides highlights functions

JAN. 13, 2004 - Robert Zalaskus, the commanding officer at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station ("NWS"), provided Rotarians with details about the operations and many functions carried out at the NWS.

The NWS comprises 17,000 acres (about 30 square miles) and includes all of the types of infrastructure typically found in a small city. Zalaskus likened himself to the mayor of such small city. The value of the resources at the NWS is said to be close to $2.6 billion.

According to Zalaskus, the NWS is the largest employer in this region. It currently has close to 16,800 personnel, including active duty military employees, reservists, appropriated fund civilians and other contractors. Total annual payroll is close to $998 million.

The four main "functional areas" for the NWS are: training, ordnance, logistics, and engineering. Zalaskus said more than 3000 naval students per year attend academic training at the site. Additionally, all of the approximately 2000 new border patrol agents per year in the entire country train there. The Navy also conducts hands-on nuclear reactor training at the site.

Zalaskus reported that 62 million pounds of ordnance can be stored at the NWS. There are, for example, 300+ magazines on the site. Logistically, the NWS is a hub of highways, freeways, rails, and deep water access that has been crucial to Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than 2 million tons of combat logistics, including tanks and other vehicles, were moved to Iraq from the NWS. Finally, the NWS employs more than 2000 high-tech engineers, who assist all branches of the military as well as outside businesses.

In other business:

Peter Lucash gave the invocation and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Ellen Katzman welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians. David Ginn offered a special "I wish" poem during Health and Happiness, which had been shared with him by his father. Anita Zucker reminded Rotarians that Amy Jenkins is the Editor of the Keyway and that the Keyway should be consulted for relevant club news. Anita Zucker also presented a multiple Paul Harris pin to Bill Scarborough. Earl Walker introduced our guest speaker, Captain Robert Zalaskus.

-- Amy Jenkins