Federal Employee Spotlight: Paul Manning

(Federal Workers Alliance)

For this month’s edition of the Federal Employee Spotlight, we check in with Paul Manning from the International Association of Masters Mates and Pilots (MMP), a civil service mariner (CIVMAR) employed by Military Sealift Command (MSC) in the Department of Defense. He and his fellow CIVMARs are federal government employees who pursue a civil service career while assigned aboard U.S. government-owned, MSC-operated ships responsible for fleet support located around the globe. MSC operates approximately 110 of these noncombatant civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

From 1985-2005, Paul Manning served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. During his time in the Navy he deployed to the Middle East and Mediterranean on multiple occasions both on US Navy Ships and with the Marine Corps. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm he was assigned to a USMC field artillery battery (Hotel 3/11) as part of the ground forces liberating Kuwait. In 1992-93 he deployed on Operation Deep Freeze deploying to Antarctica for 5 ½ months. In 1994 he was deployed on the USNS Comfort for Operation Sea signal as part humanitarian assistance for Haiti.

His shore duty assignment was Naval Hospital Bethesda & the Navy clinic at the US Naval Academy where he managed small clinics and was a Provider.  He served onboard the USS Proteus (AS-19), USS America (CV-66), USS Halyburton (FFG-40). He was also a Navy Drug and Alcohol program Advisor and retired from active duty in 2005 after 20 years of honorable service as a Chief Hospital Corpsman and IDC. From 2005-2006, Manning held several positions with one managing “Night time Pediatrics” at an acute care clinic in Annapolis. He also served as Health Services Administrator for Correctional Medical Services (contractor) overseeing the medical care for 2700 inmates at the Baltimore City Detention center.

Today Manning serves as a Medical Services Officer on board the USNS Niagara Falls, USNS Sacagawea, USNS Lenthall, USNS Supply and is currently sailing on the USS Mount Whitney.  He was awarded the Mariner Excellence award in 2008 for east Coast MSOs for medical care of 2 Mariners with one resulting in a crew member surviving a heart attack and the other for saving a patient’s left leg while onboard the Lenthall.  

Paul Manning, in encouraging his fellow MSOs to join the newly organized MMP bargaining unit, shared, “Union membership is not mandatory but nothing is free. Joining a Union is a personal decision on your part. But now, more than any other time is when good representation on decisions that affect us is crucial. A healthy level of dues paying members is needed to keep our representation. This is a tough time to work for the Federal government especially with a pay freeze in effect. We all sacrifice as do our families in support of MSC’s mission to help defend the nation. We deserve representation. With that said I pay $15.38 a pay period and don’t realize it until I look at my LES.”

Born in Baltimore on 14 May 1967 and married Kim with whom they have 3 daughters, Sarah (21), Ashley (16) and Kyleen (6); all are smart and beautiful. When home Paul volunteers time onboard the SS John W. Brown (WW2 Liberty ship in Baltimore) usually working in the Engine room and providing medical care as needed. Paul’s parents were Baltimore city school teachers and members of the teacher’s union (his dad was Shop Steward). He is a member of the VFW and attends church when at home at Faith/Community United Methodist church.