Tag Archives: Rear Adm. Mark Whitney

Amid Private Yard Capacity Concerns, Navy Trying to Boost Sailors’ Maintenance Abilities

Amid Private Yard Capacity Concerns, Navy Trying to Boost Sailors’ Maintenance Abilities

Water is drained from a dry dock at U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF JRMC) Yokosuka preparing the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) for a scheduled maintenance availability in July 2015. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated to add the title of Cmdr. Cedric McNeal.

SAN DIEGO – The Navy is projecting a significant increase in ship maintenance and modernization work in the next couple years, and several officials are concerned private industry does not have the capacity to keep up. Read More

Naval Shipyards, Private Yards Collaborating to Manage Workload Peaks and Valleys

Naval Shipyards, Private Yards Collaborating to Manage Workload Peaks and Valleys

Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN-725) arrives at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a high-priority docking continuous maintenance availability on Aug. 20, 2015. US Navy Photo

Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN-725) arrives at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a high-priority docking continuous maintenance availability on Aug. 20, 2015. US Navy Photo

Public naval shipyards are working closely with private repair yards to coordinate workforce needs as the Navy navigates a peak of aircraft carrier and submarine work this fiscal year followed by a dip in work shortly after, the Naval Sea Systems Command’s deputy commander for logistics, maintenance and industrial operations told a House Armed Services Committee panel Thursday. Read More

Public Shipyards to Reach Workforce Goal of 33,500 By February After Hiring Spree

Public Shipyards to Reach Workforce Goal of 33,500 By February After Hiring Spree

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Dry Dock 1 is flooded during the undocking of USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) in May 2010. US Navy photo.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Dry Dock 1 is flooded during the undocking of USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) in May 2010. US Navy photo.

SAN DIEGO – Public shipyards are on track to reach 33,500 full-time equivalent employees by February, thanks to a hiring spree meant to get the yards back on track after both sequestration and a high attrition rate eroded workforce capacity. Read More

Admirals: Fleet Readiness Plan Could Leave Carrier Gaps, Overwhelm Shipyards

Admirals: Fleet Readiness Plan Could Leave Carrier Gaps, Overwhelm Shipyards

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) leads a formation of ships from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a maneuvering exercise on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) leads a formation of ships from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a maneuvering exercise on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

SAN DIEGO – The Navy is nine months into its new deployment model – the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) – designed to keep carrier strike groups from unexpectedly long deployments and allow time for needed ship upkeep.

The plan promises to make life more predictable for sailors and maintainers, but service officials are already running into roadblocks that, if not addressed by Navy leadership and Congress, could exacerbate gaps in overseas carrier presence and further burden the maintenance community. Read More