Thousands of service members from 30 nations are taking part in the exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands. NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor civilian personnel are working behind the scenes to support logistics requirements for the multinational force.
Many civilian employees at NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor have spent decades developing technical expertise and institutional knowledge. The Navy said that experience is important during RIMPAC, where logistics coordination is essential to multinational training and maritime partnerships.
The civilian workforce includes contracting specialists, transportation coordinators, supply analysts, logisticians and ocean terminals personnel. Their work provides continuity before ships get underway and after exercise operations conclude.
“If the public could see one thing, I would want them to understand that the civilian workforce at NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor is the quiet engine powering this massive, multinational event,” said Larry Larkin, executive director, NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor. He said the workforce plays a central role in delivering the logistics needed for the exercise.
Larkin said: “For the past 24 months, our dedicated ohana has prepared to deliver the world-class logistics required for RIMPAC. This exercise is our opportunity to demonstrate our expertise while welcoming thousands of visiting Sailors, many of whom are experiencing Hawaii for the first time.”
“We want our partners and the public to see a highly capable civilian workforce that stands ready to support the fleet while sharing the true meaning of aloha.” The Navy said supporting RIMPAC requires planning and coordination across multiple logistics disciplines.
Civilian employees work alongside military personnel to manage cargo movements, coordinate transportation requirements and execute contracts. They also maintain supply chain operations supporting forces from around the world.
For many employees, supporting the fleet is more than a job. The Navy said it is a career built on experience and a commitment to operational readiness.
That experience is reflected in the work of Manny Galera, deputy director of ocean terminals. He recently marked 15 years as a federal employee supporting fleet logistics.
Galera’s team coordinates vessel support requests and cargo movements that keep RIMPAC operations on schedule. The team works to ensure participating forces receive logistics support when they need it.
“We have years of experience reviewing support requests and scheduling each vessel’s requirements to ensure every ship receives the support it needs at the right time,” Galera said. “Communication is critical, and the ability to deconflict competing requirements at a moment’s notice can be the deciding factor in a successful evolution.”
As RIMPAC has grown in size and complexity, logistics requirements have also expanded. The Navy said the institutional knowledge of experienced civilian employees helps NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor adapt to changing mission demands while preserving continuity for large-scale operations.
Much of the civilian workforce’s contribution takes place outside public view. However, the Navy said the work directly enables the readiness of U.S. and partner nation forces participating in RIMPAC.
The workforce’s expertise in logistics systems, contracting, transportation and fleet support allows NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor to respond to complex operational requirements. The command supports the exercise from the planning phase through execution and conclusion.
RIMPAC demonstrates the strength of international maritime partnerships. It also shows the value of civilian professionals whose knowledge and experience help sustain those partnerships.
Working with military counterparts, NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor’s civilian workforce turns years of planning into operational support. The Navy said their continuity, technical knowledge and experience are key to exercise success.
As participating forces train to strengthen interoperability, enhance regional security and promote a free and open Pacific, civilian professionals remain part of the logistics effort that makes the exercise possible. NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor enables forward operations and sustains fleet readiness throughout the Pacific.
Naval Supply Systems Command provides supply, acquisition and logistics support to the Navy and joint force worldwide. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel.
Thirty nations, more than 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC. The exercise runs from June 24 to July 31 in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
RIMPAC provides a training opportunity while fostering cooperative relationships among participants. The Navy said those relationships are critical to the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971. This year’s event highlights both multinational maritime operations and the civilian logistics workforce that supports them.
