Originally posted by Mineral County Independent-News
Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) returned to Hawthorne on July 29 for a community Town Hall that drew a mix of more than 85 depot employees, former D&Z/SOC employees, veterans, civic leaders, and residents — all eager to hear what the longtime depot operator has in store for the future. The town hall was held to discuss the current HWAD (Hawthorne Army Depot) contract opportunity, share the vision for future operations, and invite community input regarding what a strong local partnership should look like.
The presenting team included representatives from: Day & Zimmermann (current prime contractor candidate) and Akima (Alaska Native Corporation and teaming partner).
“We are honored to return and reconnect with the Hawthorne Army Depot community,” Rick Nesbitt, former General Manager, Day & Zimmermann/SOC told attendees, adding thanks to everyone who took part in the evening of open dialogue. Nesbitt opened the session by reminding the audience that, because the Army’s source‑selection is still active, the team could not discuss pricing or staffing diagrams. “Tonight is about dialogue—about understanding what more looks like for Hawthorne,” he said, inviting questions from the floor.
After the event Nesbitt remarked, “It was amazing to not only see the turnout, but also to understand the patriotic need for the Depot to return to its former glory under a new plan. With four decades of dedication to the community and mission, we are excited for the chance to help shape the future.”
Day & Zimmermann Back in Town
Company representatives will continue to engage with the community and be seen around town, with a strong desire to be back on the job. The team sent an open survey out, to gather information and concerns from Hawthorne residents as they arise, with plans to provide more updates through the transition window should D&Z’s bid prove successful (target transition: July 1 – Dec 29, 2026).
About Day & Zimmermann
Founded nearly 125 years ago, Day & Zimmermann today is a $3B, family‑owned provider of mission‑critical solutions to the U.S. government and commercial clients. The company’s munitions division has manufactured, stored and demilitarized a wide range of ammunition while designing and operating advanced production lines for the Department of Defense. D&Z served Hawthorne Army Depot for more than 40 years with a workforce drawn largely from Mineral County and an unblemished safety record, and it returns today with the same values—Safety, Integrity, Diversity and Success—plus new capital and technology to support both national readiness and community growth.