We Are MSC: DEMACH Paul Pega
24 July 2025
WE ARE MSC --
We Are MSC – DEMACH Paul Pega
This week’s “We Are MSC” highlights San Diego native Paul Pega, Deck Machinist aboard the MSC expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4).
How long have you worked with MSC?
Pega: I joined MSC in June 2012 so almost 13 years now.
What is your job aboard USS Hershel “Woody” Williams?
Pega: I'm a Deck Machinist or Demach which means I maintain outside equipment such as winches, cranes and lifeboats as well as fabricate from time to time.
What do you enjoy most about being a CIVMAR?
Pega: The best thing about being a CIVMAR is traveling all around the world seeing and experiencing new places I'd probably never would have been able to visit otherwise like Diego Garcia and the Solomon Islands.
What has been your most favorite memory while working at MSC?
Pega: On the ship my most memorable experience was the first underway replenishment (unrep) and vertical replenishment (vertrep) I did were we replenished 3 ships in one day including an aircraft carrier simultaneously while we had multiple helicopters in the air; it was a 'oh my god, this is my job?' moment. Outside the ship my most memorable experience was because of all the traveling I met my wife.
As a staff member (or military member) how do you support the MSC mission?
Pega: MSC's mission is to support the Navy and other vessels by replenishing them with what they need whether its fuel, ordinance, food or other supplies. I support that mission by doing maintenance and fixing equipment required to transfer those supplies to other ships while also working on the support systems for the crew such as the lifeboats and rescue boats.