SECNAV Announces Push to Rebuild Michigan's Maritime Industrial Base
said. The schools and industry partners that shaped the country’s automotive and transportation industries will help build and sustain the Navy’s fleet. The M3 initiative will also help place graduates from these programs with maritime suppliers to meet their hiring demands.Leveraging Department of Defense (DoD) Industrial Base Policy assessments and innovative veteran programs like SkillBridge—which connects transitioning service members with real-world job experiences in their last 180 days of service—the M3 initiative will also capitalize on Michigan’s strong veteran population
MRS '24 - Panel 5: Identifying Risk, Measuring Success in the "Gray Zone"
impinge our interests, especially those carried out in the gray zone.” iiThis panel will investigate how to identify and categorize gray zone activities and what types of responses are appropriate and necessary using the elements of national power and international bodies. The Department of Defense isn’t the only player in this arena. The United States Coast Guard offers that they will “provide a full spectrum of engagement in the grey zone as nation-states and transnational criminal organizations generate increased uncertainty and complexity in the maritime domain.&rdquo
Schneider Named Engineering Director at Bollinger Mississippi Shipyard
Bollinger Shipyards announced it has hired Nathan Schneider as Director of Engineering for its Bollinger Mississippi Shipyard (BMS). As Director of Engineering, Schneider will be responsible for leading the BMS Engineering Department in support of various Department of Defense and commercial new construction programs.“As we continue to grow and expand to meet the changing needs of our customers, it’s important that the leadership team and broader organization evolve to meet those demands and provide the highest levels of quality, support and service in our industry,” said Ben Bordelon
Birdon Adds Two to its US Board
before retiring as a Rear Admiral (O-8) and included commanding the Coast Guard’s only shipyard. After his service, Rábago spent over 5 years in the private sector enabling small and large companies to do business with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense. He worked closely with Bollinger Shipyards (Mississippi), formally “Halter Marine,” to design and build the USCG Polar Security Cutter. Bollinger is a key subcontractor for Birdon’s Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program contract. RADM Rábago’s extensive experience
Robinson to Lead BAE Systems' Government Relations Team
has named Reggie Robinson senior vice president for government relations, effective August 21.In this role, Robinson will assume responsibility of all government relations activities for the company, overseeing BAE Systems, Inc.’s relationships with members of Congress, the White House, the Department of Defense and other executive branch organizations, as well as state government leaders.Robinson will report to BAE Systems, Inc. president and CEO Tom Arseneault, and serve as a member of the Inc. senior leadership team. He will also serve as a director on the BAE Systems, Inc. board of directors
OPT Adds Three Senior Directors to Help Drive Defense & Security Business
strategy and development in its defense and security business.Joseph "Digger" DiGuardo joins OPT as Sr. Dir. US Gov. Strategy & Development. DiGuardo brings with him over 30 years of success delivering in-depth domain knowledge and mission understanding to provide solutions for the Department of Defense’s national security challenges. He possesses broad experience leading large, complex military organizations, developing senior leaders and warfighters, working with international partners, and designing strategies to further objectives. His extensive background in the Navy, including
Metal Shark Hires Marshall as Executive VP
Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark announced it has expanded its executive team with a newly recruited appointment from the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense Naval Surface Warfare Center – Carderock (NSWC). Jason Marshall joins Metal Shark as Executive Vice President – Programs, following a 30 year career with NSWC’s Combatant Craft Division (CCD).Marshall most recently served as CCD’s In-Service Systems Engineering Branch Head (2019-2023), managing the team of project managers and systems engineers responsible for the Navy’s sustainment combatant craft, high
HII Names Chewning EVP Strategy & Development
primary customer, the U.S. Navy. HII is the nation’s only builder of aircraft carriers and its largest military shipbuilder; among defense technology distinctions it is the world’s largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles, the largest aggregator of cyber data across the U.S. Department of Defense, and sole developer and operator of the department’s largest LVC (live, virtual and constructive) training enterprise that leverages artificial intelligence to maximize readiness while reducing costs.With 20 years of experience in national security markets, Chewning will guide HII&rsquo
Saildrone Hires Woody as Director of Defense and Intelligence Sales
(ISR) customer base.Woody has spent the past 15 years helping start-ups and other young businesses grow and operate profitability in the defense sector. Prior to joining Saildrone, he led the market entry of a UK-based professional services firm building a large book of business within the Department of Defense, NATO, and other US and international government agencies. As the Senior Vice President of Business Development, he oversaw the go-to-market strategy for identifying, capturing, and executing new business opportunities.Woody began his commercial career at Mission Essential, LLC, a small business
Adm. Fagan Nominated as First Female USCG Commandant
.Previously, Adm. Fagan served as Commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area overseeing operations from the Rocky Mountains to the waters off the East Coast of Africa. The Pacific Area Commander concurrently serves as Commander, Defense Force West providing Coast Guard mission support to the Department of Defense and Combatant Commanders. Adm. Fagan is the Coast Guard’s first-ever Gold Ancient Trident, as the officer with the longest service record in the Marine Safety field.Pending confirmation, Adm. Fagan is expected to relieve the current Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Karl L. Schultz
Workforce Development: Apprenticeship Programs Help Build the Fleet
or Rhode Island, but SENEDIA brings a cross state and regional perspective, so we can expand into Massachusetts and further into New England.”Developing skilled talent to design, build and repair ships requires partners. SENEDIA was awarded an $18.6 million contract in August 2020 from the Department of Defense to develop the Next Generation Submarine Shipbuilding Supply Chain Partnership, a robust New England regional workforce development program that will serve the needs of submarine shipbuilding employers and open up job exploration and employment opportunities to more than 5,000 potential workers
Sea Machines Promotes Bourque
the field of autonomy. Bourque has a BASc degree in international business and an MBA from the University of Redlands, in Redlands, Calif.Sea Machines’ Michael G. Johnson, CEO and founder, said, “Among other endeavors, Phil was instrumental in securing our agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to engineer, build and demonstrate ready-to-deploy kits that enable autonomous, self-propelled operation of barges to land and replenish military aircraft. He also led the establishing of our relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Rolls-Royce to Boost Output for the US Navy
investment in a new 24,000-square-foot building at the company’s Walpole, Mass., facility which further demonstrates both the company’s commitment to the naval business and the resilience of its wider Defense business despite difficult economic conditions.In a recent announcement, the Department of Defense said, “This DPA Title III investment will protect and create jobs in the Gulf Coast region hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure critical capabilities are retained in support of U.S. Navy operational readiness.” Barry Cumbest, Jackson County Board of Supervisors President
Smith Named CEO of Fincantieri Marine Systems N.A.
and ship repair organizations focusing primarily on support of U.S. Navy programs. Smith brings over a decade of waterfront management experience at multiple ports to help lead the expansion into total ship sustainment.FMSNA is a U.S. corporation that offers essential products and services to the Department of Defense for use in homeland security and commercial business. They offer nearly every facet of service, including engineering support, service of marine propulsion systems and components, as well as training and maintenance support. FMSNA recently expanded into total ship sustainment starting with
Dredging: Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce
, aerospace; mechanical and software engineers, manufacturing/production workers; IT support; security staff; security personnel; intelligence support, aircraft and weapon system mechanics and maintainersPersonnel working for companies, and their subcontractors, who perform under contract to the Department of Defense providing materials and services to the Department of Defense, and government-owned/contractor-operated and government-owned/government-operated facilitiesThe full guidance is available here
TDI-Brooks Hires Byno
Offshore geochemical exploration and heat flow measurement company TDI-Brooks International said it has haired Richard Byno III, PMP, as Director of Marine Operations.Byno joins TDI-Brooks with more than 17 years or operations experience, having most recently most recently worked at the Department Of Defense, where he served as a high-level strategic senior military advisor providing guidance to the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and Executive Branch.He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps where he was a Member of a Marine Special Operations Command team in which he performed
Crowley Awards Scholarships to Four Cal Maritime Students
to Crowley, the maritime industry and the nation at large. The merchant marine primarily transports cargo and passengers during peacetime. In times of war, the merchant marine can be an auxiliary to the U.S. Navy, and can be called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the Department of Defense
