By MC 1 Jonathan Carmichael, NMCB 11 Public Affairs
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) awarded the 2012 Moreell Medal to Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Lt. Cmdr. Ryan P. Carey, operations officer, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11.
In a message from Commander Naval Facilities Engineering Command (COMNAVFACENGCOM), Rear Adm. Katherine L. Gregory praised the Williamsburg, Va., native for inspirational leadership and unsurpassed professional expertise as he led engineering operations across the entire country of Afghanistan.
Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, commanding officer, NMCB 11, had the following to say of Carey. Unquestionably, his superb leadership in combat coupled with understanding of NCF and MC/Joint Doctrine were absolutely critical to NMCB 11's support of the Marine Corps, Army and Special Forces throughout Afghanistan.
Carey earned his commission in September 2000 after attending Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla. He earned his master s degree in civil engineering from the University of Maryland.
His duty stations included Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton, Calif.; NMCB 1 in Gulfport, Miss.; 8
th Engineer Support Battalion, MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Marianas, Guam; and his current assignment, NMCB 11, Gulfport, Miss.
Carey s deployments include Guam, the Philippines, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Moreell Medal is named for Adm. Ben Moreell who, as the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Chief of Civil Engineers of the Navy, was granted permission in 1941 to form Naval Construction Battalions, thus earning the distinction of being called the father of the U.S. Navy Seabees.