Thomas, Mazzone to Head Naval Shipyards

Vice Adm. Paul Sullivan, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced the appointments of Capt. Gregory R. Thomas as commander of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) in Hawaii, and Capt. Robert W. Mazzone as commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery, Maine.

Thomas, a native of Portsmouth, Va., leaves his position as PNSY's Operations Officer. He reported to NAVSEA as the first Design Manager and Technical Director for the world's largest unmanned autonomous vehicle, LSV-2 Cutthroat. The vehicle was designed, developed, constructed and delivered through a partnership of the nation's two submarine shipbuilders, Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) and General Dynamics Electric Boat. In recognition for superior performance in the LSV-2 design development, he received the 1999 NAVSEA Association of Scientists and Engineers Professional Achievement Award.

Thomas then transferred to the Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP), Conversion and Repair, Newport News, Va. to serve as the first Virginia Class Submarine Program Manager's Representative at NGNN and as Submarine Project Officer for SUPSHIP Newport News. Additionally, he served as the command's project officer for the defueling and inactivation of the ex-Narwhal (SSN 671).

In September 2001, Thomas left NAVSEA to serve as the repair officer for USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and led maintenance efforts on forward deployed and deployed surface ships and submarines of the 7th Fleet. Upon completion of his repair officer tour, he transferred to the staff of Commander Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet, as the maintenance officer. Additionally, Thomas was co-chair of Submarine Team One, a cross organizational team responsible for leading submarine enterprise efforts to improve planning and execution of submarine depot availabilities.

Thomas received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1982, and his Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, the Naval Engineer's Degree, and a PhD in Hydrodynamics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) While at MIT, he received the American Society of Naval Engineers Brand Award for academic excellence.

Mazzone reports to his new command at PNSY from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNSY & IMF) in Bremerton Wash., where he served as the operations officer since June 2006. Prior to that duty, he served as the production resources officer from January 2005.

Mazzone was promoted to Capt. in November 2004. In August 2001, he reported to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as chief engineer. Prior to that tour, Mazzone was at PSNY as project superintendent for six, 688 Class Submarine Off-Yard Selected Restricted Availabilities and then served as the Off-Yard Operations Officer.

Additionally, he served as operations officer to the Navy Experimental Diving Unit; as assistant material officer and diving officer for Commander Submarine Development Group One in San Diego, Calif., where he led numerous deep ocean salvage efforts; and as PSNS & IMF's shipyard docking officer and diving officer and senior ship superintendent for the Refueling Complex Overhaul of USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN 617).

Commissioned in the Navy in 1983 as a Medical Service Corps Officer, Mazzone's initial assignment was at the Naval Medical Research Institute as a Research Physiologist. During this assignment, he attended Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center and the Naval Saturation Diving School completing qualification as a Navy Deep Sea Diver (Mixed Gas and Saturation qualified).

Mazzone received his Bachelors degree in Biology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 1971 and his Ph.D degree in Physiology from the State University of New York, Buffalo in 1975, and his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1991 from the Navy Postgraduate School. Prior to joining the Navy, Mazzone was Assistant Professor of Medicine at (UCSD).