On Thursday, Oct. 21, Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) President and Chief executive Officer, Steve Abbot toured the Pacific Northwest naval facilities in honor of the society’s 100th anniversary festivities.

As part of the centennial celebration, Abbot is touring all 250 NMCRS facilities around the world.  He made a one-day whirlwind tour of all the region’s installations including Whidbey Island, Bangor, Bremerton, and Everett.

“I’m grateful to be out here visiting the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society offices in the Pacific Northwest,” said Abbot. “I’ve been looking forward to getting out here for a long time.”

Abbot, who took over leadership of NMCRS in July 19, 2003, says its his goal to visit every society site and thank its more than 3,000 volunteers and 200 staffmembers for the work they do everyday.

“I’m out here visiting these offices and meeting all the terrific people who work there,” he said.  “I’m also getting a chance to meet the senior officer and enlisted leadership who help us do our job for the men and women who serve.”

Abbot, a retired Navy admiral, is no stranger to serving his country. Until June 2003, he served as the Acting Homeland Security Advisor to the President, having served as the Deputy Homeland Security Advisor under Governor Tom Ridge. 

His last military assignment was as the Deputy Commander in Chief of U.S. European Command stationed out of Stuttgart, Germany. While there, he oversaw the daily activities of the Unified Command with an area of responsibility encompassing 89 countries and more than 12 million square miles.

The 34-year Navy veteran also comes with impressive academic credentials.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1966 and performed his graduate studies at Harvard University and Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes scholar.

During his stay in the local area, Abbot said he sees the Navy Region Northwest’s burgeoning regionalization efforts as a shrewd business move.

“I’ve had the opportunity to see the effects beginning of the regionalization effort that the CNO had directed,” he said. “As I interpret it, it’s a very appropriate business decision to organize more efficiently. By doing so, they become more efficient and I’ve seen evidence of this as I’ve traveled around.”

But regardless of what direction the Navy heads, Abbot says that NMCRS will respond and adapt regardless of the situation.

“As far as the NMCRS is concerned, we respond to changing conditions, no matter what they are,” Abbot said. “As new facilities emerge, we establish new offices, as facilities close, we shut down offices. We don’t get out in front of that process, we respond to how the Navy changes.”

“We have our own particular niche which is the one designed to help Sailors and their families when they have a crisis,” he said.  We’re a safety net, so to speak. We help people in a time of need.”

“We always keep in mind that our mission is to help Sailors, Marines and their families as well as retired personnel, widows and reservists on extended active duty.

“Everything we do is designed to provide assistance to those individuals,” he said. “We’ve been doing it 100 years and now look forward to getting on with the next 100 years.”