Austal USA announced the appointment of Joe Rella to the position of Chief Operating Officer for Austal’s Mobile,
Alabama shipyard. Mr. Rella most recently led the sales and marketing team of Jeffboat, LLC in Indiana as Vice President.
Mr. Rella has more than ten years of experience at shipyards on the Gulf Coast, including both Atlantic Marine in Mobile, Alabama, and Ingalls in Mississippi. Mr. Rella started his maritime career by enlisting in the U.S. Navy and graduating from the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. While in the U.S. Navy, he received his appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering Systems. He also earned an MBA from Spring Hill College here in Mobile.
Current construction activity at the Mobile yard includes the second of two 353-foot (107-meter) high-speed cargo/passenger ferries for Hawaii Superferry and a 127-meter Littoral Combat Ship under construction for the U.S. Navy.