WestGate building named for former NSWC commander

The plaque that will be affixed to the new EE & G building in the WestGate Tech Park near Crane Village. The building was dedicated in the memory of former NSWC Crane Commander, the late Capt. William Nelson, on Tuesday.

By Nick Schneider Jan Nelson (at right), the widow of Capt. William "Bill" Nelson accepts a commemorative plaque from EE & G Technical Services President Randy Worting on Tuesday during a special dedication ceremony at WestGate Technology Park near Crane Village. Nelson, who passed away in November 2000, served as the 17th commanding officer at NSWC Crane from August 1985 to August 1988. EE & G formally named its new facility in honor of Capt. Nelson, who worked for the company for three years after his retirement from the U.S. Navy.

CRANE --The legacy as an innovative leader and a friend left by former Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division commander -- the late Capt. William J. "Bill" Nelson USN -- will long be remembered by those who knew and worked with him during his tenure in southwestern Indiana.

On Tuesday morning, EG & G Technical Services Corporation dedicated its new WestGate 1 building at Crane Village in his honor. The access street into the contractor's complex has also been named in Nelson's honor.

And a huge rock with a commemorative plague also stands in front of the building next to the flag pole as a reminder Nelson's memory.

Nelson, who passed away in November 2000, served as the 17th commanding officer at NSWC Crane from August 1985 to August 1988. He retired from the military in 1992 -- serving 31 years.

Capt. Nelson, a California native, joined EG & G's Crane operations in 1996 and served as its first program director from 1997 until 2000.

Nelson's wife, Jan, attended the ceremony and accepted a commemorative plaque from EG & G president Randy Worting.

She said her husband would be humbled and honored that a company and a community chose to honor him in this way.

During his tenure at NSWC Crane, Capt. Nelson was instrumental in reaching out to the communities around the Naval base and collaborated with its leaders on many issues.

He was instrumental in forming the Southern Indiana Mayor Roundtable and introduced the concept of expanding capability and cost effectiveness of the NSWC workforce through contractor support, according to his friend and former working colleague David Reece, who served as NSWC Executive Director during Nelson's tenure.

Former NSWC Executive Director David Reece, of Bloomfield, spoke to the gathering. [Click to enlarge]

That idea set launched the significant presence of defense contractors in the area and set into motion the events that help establish WestGate at Crane Technology Park, the state's first tri-county tech park with Greene, Daviess and Martin counties cooperating in the effort, Reese pointed out to the gathered crowd.

Reece, who lives in Bloomfield and is now involved with CTI, called him a leader, who had the unique ability to solve problems. He helped develop management programs through Indiana University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

It was Nelson who helped to transform NSWC Crane from an ordinance manufacturing, processing and testing facility to a technically-run engineering operation with strong advocacy in the navy.

"He recognized that long-term strength would also be enhanced with community, state, and Congressional and state support. He knew he needed to instill this vision and capability into his civilian managers to ensure long-term success. Bill Nelson was much more than transient trained commanding officer. He was a leader whose vision and technical and organizational knowledge coupled with his superb people skills have helped to make Crane what it is today," Reece said.

Another colleague, Duane Embree also a former Executive Director at NSWC Crane, called Nelson a mentor and a major influence in his life and professional career.

"The thing I remember is his leadership," Embree said. "The things that stand out were his extreme optimism and 'can do' attitude."

He called the honor bestowed on Nelson by EG & G very fitting based on Capt. Nelson's accomplishments and the influence he played on the people who still work daily in support of the warfighter.

Embree now serves as Technical Director of Crane.

"How fitting I think, what more could there be than to be remembered in this way. To be remembered and still be an influence every day on a whole group of leaders and a community, what more could you ask than to have influenced that many people?" Embree concluded.

The EG&G Division of the URS Corporation is a leading provider of management and technical services to the U.S. government. It's staff of more than 12,300 employees provides program management, systems engineering and technical assistance, and operations and maintenance services to a variety of federal agencies, primarily the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

EG&G became the first actual tenant in the WestGate Tech Park when it cut ribbon on its Daviess County facility just outside of Crane Village in September.

Initially, EG & G is occupying a 25,000 square foot $2.5 million facility that can be expandable to more than 40,000 square feet, if needed in the future.

EG&G has contracted with NSWC Crane since 1998.

The new facility provides office space for about 60 personnel as well as 15,000 square feet of storage and shop space.