Obusek holds first town hall as NSSC senior manager

By Bob Reinert/USAG-Natick Public AffairsFebruary 4, 2013

Obusek holds first town hall as NSSC senior manager
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NATICK, Mass. -- In his first town hall meeting as its senior manager Feb. 1, Dr. John P. "Jack" Obusek thanked the Natick Soldier Systems Center workforce for their unwavering support of Soldiers despite an uncertain fiscal landscape.

With the possibility of budget cuts triggered by sequestration and an extension of the continuing resolution on the horizon, Obusek opened by showing an image of a Soldier in combat gear to remind those in attendance why they all worked at Natick.

"In spite of all of the turmoil, the uncertainty and all the things that are going on around us, and the anxiety that we feel inside sometimes with regard to that … we've got to remember always why we are here," Obusek said. "This is the reason.

"We still have that Soldier on point. In the midst of all this, we have got to keep our eye on the

ball. Your challenge is to stay focused on the mission."

Obusek, who took over as senior manager in September 2012, also told of developments at Natick since the last town hall, which included the installation earning "Storm Ready" status, a visit by television's "Larry the Cable Guy," a "Greening Day" at Fort Devens, and the naming of female body armor by Time Magazine as one of 2012's greatest inventions.

Then Obusek handed out awards, recognized deployed, retiring and new employees, listened to updates from representatives of tenant organizations, and fielded questions from the audience. Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Beausoleil, NSSC's new command sergeant major, also was introduced.

"These are difficult times," Obusek said. "In spite of the uncertainty, we're doing great things, and we're going to continue to do great things."