Truman completes PIA at NNSY

Waterfront Watch: ALL HANDS ON DECK

PHOTO BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO BY TONY ANDERSON • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER

Truman completes PIA at NNSY

By Anna Taylor • Public Affairs Specialist USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard for sea trials a day early July 21 following the completion of its 10-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).

Truman’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Ryan B. Scholl, praised both ship forces, NNSY and civilian contractors for working together to stay on schedule and making an on-time departure from the shipyard.

“The number one goal for this ship over the last year was making it better than when it arrived here,” said Scholl. “The excitement, enthusiasm and teamwork are what propelled us out of the shipyard. Truman is ready to tackle the next stage of doing what carriers do – conduct prompt and sustained combat operations from the sea.”

Critical work during the availability, which began last September, included an upgrade to the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES), the Navy's next generation tactical afloat network, which enhances operational 24 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • AUGUST 2017

PHOTO BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER

effectiveness and provides better quality of life for deployed Sailors.

Additionally, maintenance and refurbishments were made to shipboard systems in preparation for future operations, including rehabilitating 90,000 square feet of Truman’s hangar bay, 7,000 square feet of its flight deck combing and scuppers, and 10,000 square feet of catwalk.

According to Mike Jennings, the Truman project superintendent, Truman departed NNSY one day early. He said the ship’s crew was very experienced and everyone was focused on holding each other accountable to meet the schedule and get the ship out on time. As a further testament to teamwork, NNSY partnered with Newport News, Pearl Harbor and Puget Sound naval shipyards. According to Jennings, most of the 2015 Truman team also returned to the project.

“There was a lot of emergent work on this availability,” said Jennings. “The biggest asset we used to ensure our success was our partnership and teamwork approach. We were one team with one

fight, and that included everyone who worked on this project.”

Departing NNSY is the first step on a long road ahead for Truman. The ship is now preparing for an upcoming schedule consisting of various training exercises placing emphasis on damage control, flight deck operations and simulated combat at-sea.

"The CNO started an initiative called ‘The Team of Winners,’ and I think this is a perfect example of that,” said Capt. Scott Brown, the NNSY commanding officer. “We know with this availability what it feels like to win. We're going to carry that throughout the rest of the shipyard and use the leverage gained by Mike Jennings and Captain Scholl in getting this ship out on time."

Truman’s spot on NNSY’s waterfront won’t be vacant for long.

The shipyard welcomes USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) for its PIA in August.

Following sea trials, Truman will return to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk.

USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs contributed to this report.

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