Photo Information

Joseph Bryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Energy , speaks with Mick Wasco, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Energy Manager, while viewing the the landfill gas facility aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California April 24. The visit including a presentation about the station's energy capabilities and goals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lillian Stephens/Released)

Photo by Sgt. Lillian Stephens

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy) reviews Miramar Energy Strategy

29 Apr 2015 | Sgt. Lillian Stephens 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Joseph Bryan, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy) office visited Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, April 24.

During his visit, Mick Wasco, the MCAS Miramar Energy Manager, presented Bryan with the station’s energy initiatives and projects.

Bryan’s visit was part of the Department of the Navy’s mission to improve energy security, promote energy efficiency and reduce military reliance on fossil fuels.



Wasco’s presentation included a detailed report of MCAS Miramar’s current water and renewable energy use, energy intensity and a brief visit to Miramar’s energy-related sites. 



While Miramar has already increased energy efficiency, Wasco plans to improve its energy capabilities even more to include growing renewable energy and achieving energy independence from the city of San Diego in case of emergencies.

“That, I think, is the whole purpose of us having an energy program,” said Bryan. “To make sure that the capabilities the Department of the Navy and the Marine Corps provide to the country are there even when other parts of our infrastructure go down. If we lose the grid, we still need to do the mission.”

During his visit, Bryan also met with Col. John Farnam, the commanding officer of MCAS Miramar. They spoke at length about Miramar’s mission and energy concerns, and agreed that the station should be able to help if emergencies arise in the future and said they want to be a part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

“We’re looking to new ways of thinking and new ways of doing business [and] new ways of thinking about our energy security and resiliency so that they really support the mission,” said Bryan. “installations play a really important role in our operations.  Secure, resilient energy sources on our installations are really critical to making sure that we can meet the mission requirements that our installations in Miramar and our other installations are essential.”

According to the Marine Corps Installations Energy Policy Statement, Marine Corps Installations will reduce energy intensity by 30% in 2015.MCAS Miramar has reduced energy intensity by 46%, water reduction by 31%, and increase in renewable energy by 34%.