Welcome Aboard:
Bandy returns to NNSY as Business and Strategic Planning Officer By Anna Taylor • Public Affairs Specialist Portsmouth may not quite feel like home for this Maryland native, but plenty of familiar faces greeted Capt. Robert Bandy when he returned to Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) last year as the new Business and Strategic Planning Officer (BSPO). Ten years ago, Capt. Robert Bandy began his tour as an engineering duty officer on USS Alaska (SSBN 732) during its 27-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul at NNSY. In November, Bandy found himself once again walking down the piers of America’s Shipyard. “One of the cool things about being here for three years and then coming back after seven, a lot of the people I worked with on the Alaska project are still here,” said Bandy. “It’s been great to be back and working again with those folks who were integral to its success and are now leading the shipyard.” According to Bandy, his previous time at the shipyard set him up for success in his new position as BSPO. Most recently, Bandy served as the carrier maintenance officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “I learned a lot about the shipyard on my first tour here, and during my tour with Fleet Forces, I interacted with the shipyard quite a bit,” said Bandy. “I had already established many relationships in the business office, so I understood how the shipyard works. Working
at Fleet [Forces] really tied it all together, as far as how things work with the Navy and dealing with the shipyard on large scale issues.” Bandy’s new position as Code 1200 offers him a chance to provide leadership and mentorship to America’s Shipyard during a time of growth and transformation. “There has been a great deal of experience lost from the shipyard since the last time I was here, and there is such a focus now on developing the workforce to mitigate that loss, it’s the most eye-opening difference,” he said. “There’s more attention on getting our aircraft carriers out on time, and rightfully so. As BSPO, I am trying to foster an environment that is fun, respectful and forward thinking to steer folks toward a common goal to get ships out on time and on budget.” Bandy’s job isn’t an easy one, but after less than three months on the job, he’s already making a lasting impression. “Capt. Bandy has had an immediate positive impact on the business operations of the shipyard,” said George Fitzgerald, Business and Strategic Planning Office Manager. “His relationship with the fleet and type commanders, his insight into Navy budgeting, his understanding of NNSY, and his sense of humor will serve Code 1200 and the shipyard well, allowing us to focus on what's important to better support the mission of the shipyard. I am glad he's here.” Bandy says one of his biggest responsibilities is leaning forward on a daily basis to work with the projects and departments to identify challenges and then determine the best way to remove those barriers. “We have to get ships out on time and on budget,” he said. “On a day-to-day basis, we’re trying to facilitate our Meet the Mark for
FY-17. That has to be the goal for everyone in the shipyard to get those ships out on time. You have to come to work every day, thinking about what you’re doing to help.” The BSPO’s responsibilities don’t end at FY-17, though. Bandy’s already looking to the future to predict what NNSY will need to reach its long-term goals. “Code 1200 is the front door of the shipyard. We’re the ones who talk to the customers,” he explained. “We look down the road five or six years to see how we are stacked up to deal with the upcoming workload. We have to set ourselves up for success to deliver ships on time. We have to make sure we can do what we say we will do when we shake the customer’s hand.” Bandy is a 1995 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Before becoming an engineering duty officer in 2007, he served as a surface nuclear officer aboard aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers, including USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Bandy returned to his alma mater in 2000, where he taught engineering for three years. “The academy is a beautiful place to be, and midshipmen are energizing to be around,” he said. When he’s not in uniform, Bandy and his family, including his wife, 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter, can be found travelling across the country. “We love to go to Disney, and we are huge Baltimore Orioles fans. We go to a number of games every year.” FEBRUARY 2017 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 5