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- From sub fleet to Sunnyside
- It's almost official: Don V. Hahnfeldt will be Sunnyside's new city manager
- SUNNYSIDE (Tuesday 8-18-98)--Don V. Hahnfeldt has been a Navy man for 30 years. And most likely he'll soon bring all he knows about people and leadership to this fascinating little town.
The City Council was unanimous in offering him the city manager position this evening.
Hahnfeldt, razor sharp with trimmed sandy hair, dark tailored suit, spit-shined shoes, and graceful demeanor, accepted the position. By his side was his wife, Cheryle, blonde and classy and pleasant.
A host of Sunnysiders, city staff, and media folks were on the scene to greet the submarine squadron commodore from Silverdale. Most locals were dressed in T-shirts, jeans or shorts, and tennis shoes.
Three councilmen hinted at how their respect for Hahnfeldt spiked after they toured the commodore's former job site near Bremerton.
Chad Werkhoven, Errol Brown, and Don Vlieger indicated the visit was an important part of the hiring process.
Hahnfeldt conducted the city fathers on a tour of a Trident nuclear submarine. After seeing how Hahnfeldt's former staff and peers responded to him, Werkhoven was impressed with the commodore's leadership.
Werkhoven mentioned there are two kind of leaders, one who rules by putting the fear of God into his underlings, and the kind who leads by motivating and inspiring others. He believed Hahnfeldt to be the latter type.
Moreover, of all candidates for the position, "Don was the only one I saw who had a true passion for the job. His is the type of leadership to face and solve challenges," Werkhoven said.
Then with a big grin, Werkhoven said "I would have hired Fred Flintstone for a tour of a Trident sub." That brought the place down. "Just wait, you're going to read that in the headlines tomorrow," someone said to the outspoken young city councilman.
Don Vlieger was equally happy with the commodore, especially when he saw Hahnfeldt's former crew members respond to him with respect and affection. "We're not only talking about his peers, but his subordinates. I feel he stands head and shoulders above the other (manager candidates), " he said.
A beaming Mike Farmer said Sunnyside is very fortunate to be able to hire a man of Hahnfeldt's experience and expertise.
But rose petals weren't strewn along the entire route as Hahnfeldt entered his honeymoon with Sunnyside residents.
- Jo Balfour, veteran Mabton mayor, asked Hahnfeldt a thorny question.
- "You've got a good resume, but have you had city experience?" she said.
Hahnfeldt said he hadn't. "But I've got all the pieces." he said. He told how he steered at the helm of a large military community, and outlined his experience making scarce resources go a long way by budgeting wisely.
Balfour said "Cities operate under RCWs (state laws). Become very familiar with them to keep the city out of trouble," she said.
After the meeting, one city staffer told her associates that, "I really like ties". Probably the only tie in the fleet this evening was worn by Hahnfeldt, who looked as if he had never, ever, gotten a good whiff of Monson's feedlot, nor walked ankle deep in Sunnyside cow poo.
But that wasn't true either. According to one Sunnyside official, Hahnfeldt recently spent several days in Sunnyside, becoming as familiar with the dusty little town as the council was about him.
Mayor Ed Prilucik read Hahnfeldt's resume:
Education:
- Bachelor of Science, business Administration, Roosevelt University
- Master of Science, Operations Research/System analysis, Naval Post Graduate School
- Master of Public Administration, Public Sector Management, Valdosta State University.
- Training
- Nuclear Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Total Quality Management
- Inspector General Federal Programs/Equal Opportunity
- Senior Leadership/Core Values/Legal & Justice School
- Experience
- Manufacturing and Maintenance Management
- Chief engineer for submarine operation, maintenance and shipyard overhaul
- Squadron Commodore managed upkeep and repair in thirty 40,000-manhour refits to eight Trident submarines per year by a 1900-man maintenance facility
- Facilities Management
- Managed $100-million budget for facility buildings, vehicles and equipment
- Executive Steering Committee
- Atlantic Submarine Force ESC for TQL Force-wide implementation
- Atlantic Fleet ESC for consolidation of Air, Surface and Submarine functions.
- Chief of Naval Operations ESC for CNO Vision 2010, design of future Navy.
- Disaster Control
- Advisor to Emergency Control Center on Nuclear and Radiological accidents
- Emergency Control Center supervisor for nuclear radiological and major disasters
- Personnel Management/Administration/Development
- Human resources director for Atlantic Submarine Force
- Personnel and Training Officer for two commands
- Personnel development responsibilities for assigned personnel for over 25 years.
- Trainer and mentor to submarine commanding officers for six years.
- Commander two Nuclear Submarines
- Each was the best in its squadron of eight, and best overall in the Fleet.
- Each had the top personnel program and retention in the Fleet.
- Commanded the Pacific Strategic Submarine Fleet
- Produced the best overall performance in this squadron's 17-year history
- Produced the best improved and top performing squadron in the Pacific Fleet
- Awards
- Four Navy Legion of Merits--highest peacetime Navy personal award
- Six Battle Efficiency E's--produced the top ship in a squadron
- Six Fleet Golden Anchor Award--top personnel development program in a Fleet.
- Top Commanding Officer in the Submarine Force
- Top Education Partnership with a Community School in the entire Navy
- Personal Information
- Married, wife: Cheryle L. Hahnfeldt
- We raised three daughters:
- Christiana Lynn (Hahnfeldt) Damm, University of Pittsburgh graduate, married to Paul H. Damm, living in Reston, VA
- Katherine Paige (Hahnfeldt) Devitt, Florida State University graduate, married to Scott Devitt, living in Austin, TX.
- Jennifer Leigh Hahnfeldt, Georgia University graduate, working in Columbia, SC.