Robert McCormack is returning to NAS Whidbey Island, again. The last time he worked at the base, he was a senior chief explosive ordnance disposal technician with EOD Mobile Unit 11 with 22 years of active duty military service. This time heís a civilian employee taking over the important position of explosive safety officer, recently vacated by Larry MacArthur.

McCormack was working for a private company doing ordnance avoidance on Adak Island in Alaska when a friend told him about the job. McCormack applied and got back to Whidbey Island in time for the interview. He said he feels lucky to get the job and to be home again.

“My family’s here, I retired here and I loved living here; Iíve been a member of Team Whidbey since 1993,” McCormack said. “It’s good to formalize that relationship as a civilian employee.”

McCormack’s wife works in Coupeville and his daughter is a senior Coupeville Senior High.

He says his Navy experience has been very helpful.

“There’s a large percentage in the military EOD world that correlates directly with Explosive Safety Program Management, but as a civilian there’s always something new to learn,” McCormack said.

For instance, he knows the region and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal here but the new job requires him to focus on the management of handling, storage, transportation and use of explosive items and other energetic material. 

“There also always going to be challenges, for instance, learning the business model where we try to increase greater levels of efficiency and increase operational tempo with less and less resources,” McCormack said.

Having worn khaki as a senior chief doesn’t hurt however, nor does his experience as an instructor over at EOD where some of his program management skills go directly over to this job.

McCormack is administrator for the entire explosive safety program which includes 15 programs. He’ll ensure that people are qualified and certified to handle ordnance. But he’s quick to explain he’s not an inspector. His job is to help others to do self assessments. 

And helping others to do self-assessments helps keeps it safe.

The Navy has come a long way from the days of Port Chicago.

On July 17, 1944 at the Port Chicago Naval magazine in Port Chicago, California munitions detonated while being loaded on to a cargo vessel bound for the Pacific Theater of Operations. The explosion killed 320 sailors and civilians and injured 390 others.

“The incidents that resulted in death and loss have resulted in what you see today,” McCormack said. “We help Sailors and Marines to continue a culture of safety.”