ASSA to Host Roundtable with RADM Berkey
On June 26, 2013, the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA) will host a roundtable discussion between member companies and Rear Admiral Richard D. Berkey, Deputy Chief of Staff, Fleet Maintenance, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. ASSA will discuss major issues affecting the entire shipbuilding supplier industry with RADM Berkey. This member’s only meeting is collocated (but unaffiliated) with the American Society of Naval Engineers Mega Rust 2013: Naval Corrosion Conference at the Newport News Marriott at City Center in Newport News, Virginia.
New Commander for NNSY
Capt. William C. Kiestler relieved Rear Adm. (sel.) Richard D. Berkey June 26 as Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) 103rd Commander. In the past three years of Berkey’s command, the shipyard has prepared the carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) for work in Japan, completed Los Angeles-class submarine work, transitioned to mission funding, and participated in the Navy’s largest consolidation of Intermediate and Depot-level ship repair work.
USS Wasp Undocks Ahead of Schedule
USS Wasp (LHD 1), in Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for an eight-month docking phased maintenance availability (DPMA), undocked Sept. 18, one day ahead of schedule. "Wasp has met or exceeded all key events in this availability, and the early undocking sets the stage for future success," said Charlie Caudle, NNSY project superintendent. "[The undocking was] a very long and tedious process that went smooth as silk, which is exactly as it should be," said Capt. Dan Fillion, Wasp commanding officer. In addition to Caudle, the Wasp team is headed by deputy project superintendents Bryan Holberton and Lt. Cmdr. Robin Ball. The fiscal year 2008 DPMA has more than 124…
NNSY's Surge Main Stands Up
A group of 12 reserve Sailors became plank owners on Aug. 25 for initiating the Surge Main concept at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), where they performed a number of deckplate repair functions - seamlessly and professionally - during their annual active duty training. “We were able to hit the ground running by drawing on lessons learned from related programs at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (and Intermediate Maintenance Facility), and at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard(and Intermediate Maintenance Facility),” said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Estrada, NNSY's Surge Main Program Manager. “Surge Main provides a part-time, fully qualified maintenance workforce that can be assigned whenever and wherever the Navy needs to support Fleet Readiness and the Fleet Response Plan,” Estrada explained.
New Hand at Helm of Norfolk Naval
The Daily Press has reported that Capt. Richard Berkey will lead the Portsmouth, Va., yard as Capt. Joseph Campbell heads to the Pentagon. Navy Capt. Richard D. Berkey assumed command of Norfolk Naval Shipyard on Friday, taking the helm from Capt. Joseph F. Campbell. The nuclear-capable shipyard, based in Portsmouth, performs maintenance jobs on both aircraft carriers and submarines. With about 7,700 employees, it is the second-largest shipyard in Hampton Roads behind Northrop Grumman Newport News, and the oldest federal shipbuilding site anywhere. In a ceremony at the shipyard's Trophy Park, Berkey became the shipyard's 102nd commander since its inception as Gosport Navy Yard in 1767.
