IN THIS ISSUE Main Mast Installed on CVN 78 Apprentice School Graduates 206
Yardlines
Photo by Chris Oxley
Keel Laid for John Warner (SSN 785)
A Publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
April 2013
The Keel is Laid for SSN 785 Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) celebrated the keel laying for the 12th Virginia-class submarine (VCS), and the man whom the ship is named for – former U.S. Senator John Warner. The March 16 Keel Laying Ceremony for John Warner (SSN 785) marked the ship’s first official construction milestone and included many other firsts. “This submarine will hold special significance in our history, for this submarine is the first and only Virginiaclass submarine to be named for a person, and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of such an honor,” said NNS President Matt Mulherin. Sen. Warner led the development of the 1997 teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) and NNS to cooperatively build VCS submarines. In his remarks, EB President Kevin Poitras said the event was a proud occasion for EB and NNS employees. “The shipbuilders are working to ensure the submarine John Warner will extend the Virginia program’s record for delivering on or ahead of schedule, and at or below target cost,” Poitras said. “By sustaining this level of performance, and improving on it, the Virginia team will help to ensure the continuous production rate of two submarines per year.” In keeping with U.S. Navy tradition, Jeanne Warner, the wife of the former senator and the ship’s sponsor, had her initials welded onto a metal plate during the ceremony. In another first, the ship’s namesake’s initials were also welded onto the plate. “Navy tradition provides that both the sponsor and the namesake’s spirit become a part of the boat, but everyone who has contributed will be an integral part of the spirit and the force that makes the John Warner,” said Jeanne Warner. “The great shipbuilders of Newport News and Electric Boat – these remarkable and patriotic American shipbuilders have given their skill, dedication, energy and
a commitment to excellence to this boat. They will always sail with the John Warner.” Matthew Shilling, who joined NNS two years ago after serving five years in the Navy, welded both sets of initials onto the plate that will be permanently affixed to the submarine prior to its delivery to the Navy. The former senator, who said he was “speaking from the heart,” served as the principal speaker for the ceremony. “This ship and its design and its sister ships are one of the most invulnerable platforms in the entire arsenal of our military,” said Sen. Warner. “Nothing has been spared so that the crew of this ship for years and years and decades to come can help preserve our nation’s most valued treasure, and that is freedom.” Another of the ceremony’s poignant firsts was the request by Sen. Warner to have the pin he received when he was discharged from the military after World War II be placed with the keel authentication plate. The Navy and Marine Corps veteran said he wanted the submarine to represent not just him, but the 16 million who served in World War II. Pipefitter Betty Hazelwood, who gave the invocation, was proud that she was chosen to participate in the event. “I wanted my words to be meaningful and perfect,” she said. Other ceremony participants included Julie Dyson and Rita Meyer, matrons of honor; Assistant Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley; Adm. John M. Richardson, director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; Vice Adm. Michael J. Connor, commander, Submarine Forces; Rear Adm. David C. Johnson, program executive officer, Submarines; U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine; U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott and Rob Wittman; and Cmdr. Dan Caldwell, prospective commanding officer, John Warner. | By Gina Chew-Holman
L – R: Former U.S. Senator John Warner, his wife and Ship’s Sponsor Jeanne Warner, Rep. Bobby Scott and NNS President Matt Mulherin at the March 16 John Warner Keel Laying Ceremony. Photo by Ricky Thompson
A PROUD PAST Enables a Bright Future
“You are our secret weapon,” said retired Navy Admiral Tim Keating during the Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) Apprentice School commencement ceremony at Liberty Baptist Church Worship Center in Hampton, Va., on February 23. “No one else has you guys.”
Apprenticeship Trailblazer and Innovator. In May 2012, NNS broke ground on the new 85,000-square-foot Apprentice School facility in downtown Newport News, which will be finished by the end of 2013.
Speaking to the graduating class of 2012 as the ceremony’s commencement speaker, Adm. Keating shared from his own experiences with NNS-built aircraft carriers and submarines, describing their importance to America’s security.
Even with all the excitement about the future, the school stays focused on its core values – craftsmanship, scholarship and leadership. Micah Terrell Meeks, who received the Homer L. Ferguson Award for earning the highest grade point average in combined required academics and crafts, captured the heart of the school.
The ceremony marked the end of an exciting year for the 94-year-old Apprentice School. In August 2012, the school was recognized by the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship as a 21st Century Registered
“As Newport News shipbuilders, we do hard things right,” said Meeks, addressing his fellow graduates. “This isn’t a slogan to us; this is our way of life. It’s also a debt we all owe for living in this great country, for choosing to work in
FAMILy A
FINISH
Billy Anderson, an electrician foreman on Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), started at Newport News Shipbuilding five years ago after serving 22 years in the Air Force. He decided to apply to The Apprentice School after encouraging his son, Ricky Anderson, to get into the school because of the career opportunities and the wrestling program. Both of the Andersons grew up wrestling, with the father coaching his son until high school. “It’s in our blood. I started wrestling in the eighth grade, and I introduced the sport to him when he was 8 years old,” said the elder Anderson. “He’s set a lot of records here at The Apprentice School, and a few of them will probably stand for quite some time.”
a profession that provides our nation’s Navy with the tools they need to protect our homes, our families and our way of life.” Before introducing Adm. Keating, NNS President Matt Mulherin expressed his pride in the graduates. “Today is a day to remember the achievements you have made as apprentices, and to reflect on those you will make throughout your careers.” Surrounded by family, friends, faculty and NNS leadership, the graduates held their heads high and walked out of the ceremony into a bright future as shipbuilders. | By Peter Stern Family, friends and faculty of the 206 graduates sang the national anthem during the commencement ceremony on February 23. Photo by Chris Oxley
Like his father, the younger Anderson also works with aircraft carriers. He is an outside machinist, working in nuclear refueling. “It’s not for everybody,” said apprentice graduate Ricky Anderson, who wrestled competitively through all four years of his program. “Just because I was a wrestler didn’t mean I could come to work and be slack. I had to put in honest work.” The Andersons now share another common bond. On February 23, father and son graduated from The Apprentice School together, the father graduating with honors for outstanding performance both in the classroom and on the job. Billy Anderson and Ricky Anderson look to the future with the new Apprentice School building behind them. Father and son are both proud graduates of the class of 2012. Photo by John Whalen
They are like nothing you’ve ever seen before, except maybe in a movie. With a maximum traveling speed of 12 miles per hour, you certainly won’t see them out on the highway or driving down the road, unless that road is inside the gates of Newport News Shipbuilding. They are the unique and attention-grabbing transporters. Six transporters make up the fleet. There are four smaller, four-axis vehicles and two five-axis models. Honing in on the size of each, you would think the only directions the
transporters could go are forward and backwards. But these vehicles are extremely versatile, explained Transport Operator Mary McCleesBaker, who has been driving them for 13 years. “The transporter can move forward, in reverse, side to side, diagonally and even in a 360-degree perfect circle, if it needs to,” she explained. Like other operators who drive the transporters, McClees-Baker loves her job.
These vehicles are designed to ease underneath a huge submarine or carrier module and lift it up to seven feet off the ground, like an elevator. The drivers make it look easy, but they will tell you that operating a transporter is very challenging. Operator Lindale Brothers has been working at the shipyard for 30 years, and has been operating these unique vehicles for more than 20 years. “The most challenging thing about operating a transporter is balancing the job,” Brothers said.
Real-Life
TRANSPORTERS
There are four corners on the platform on top of the transporter – A, B, C and D. The weight has to be perfectly and equally distributed to all four corners, which involves a lot of math. It’s called blocking, and a new operator must master this process before getting behind the wheel. The maximum capacity for a single transporter is 260 metric tons, and that challenge is quadrupled when moving a large unit for a superlift, which requires the operator to drive four transporters, linked together, at
one time – a feat Brothers recently accomplished. A few months ago, the transporter team moved the 450-metric-ton, 140-foot-long gallery deck for the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). “The bigger the job, the more fun it is for me,” Brothers said. “I get a rush out of the big jobs like that one.” Foreman Carlos George, who supervises the 14 operators, explained the significance of the CVN 78 job. “It had never been done before,” he said. “There were 42 feet between each
transporter, so everything had to be perfect – regarding weight and center of gravity.” George added, “Think of the transporters as the driving force or quarterback of the team – the unit we are moving is the ball. Without transporters, you couldn’t build submarines or aircraft carriers.” | By Jeremy Bustin
The bow unit for the Illinois (SSN 786) submarine is being moved on one of the shipyard’s transporter. Photo by Ricky Thompson
The Pattern Shop’s
s Luck
They call him “Luck,” but luck isn’t the only thing Michael Luck has going for him when he enters the Pattern Shop’s two-story warehouse that is home to more than 10,000 original patterns for parts of vessels built by Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). Luck can pinpoint the exact location of approximately 5,000 patterns – all by memory – and knows the approximate location of the rest. The longtime shipbuilder has been memorizing specific information about patterns since March 1980, when he was transferred through a rotation program from the Fabrication Department to the Foundry. “I can still remember the first time I walked into the 49,000-square-foot warehouse,” he said. “I was overwhelmed. I thought to myself, ‘How in the world am I ever going to keep up with all of these patterns?’” At the time, NNS had a card catalog system for locating patterns. “The catalog had a small, index-like card for each pattern with information about the pattern, its location and sometimes a drawing of the pattern’s shape to assist with identification,” he said. “Even though the system worked fine, I found it more efficient to memorize the information by heart.” Luck did just that. He even knows the location of the shipyard’s oldest pattern that is still stored in the warehouse, a pattern that dates back to the mid-1940s. “Most people are surprised to find out that NNS stores so many patterns,” said Luck. “By contract, the company is required to keep the patterns for each vessel part for a certain period of time in case the ship needs repair work. After that period of time, the shipyard destroys the patterns.” Today, the 36-year shipyard veteran is one of two Material Support shipbuilders in the Pattern Shop responsible for transporting patterns to and from the Pattern Shop to the Foundry and eventually to the warehouse to be stored. “I’m on a forklift for the majority of my work day,” he said. “The patterns come in various shapes and sizes and range anywhere from a half pound to 1,500 pounds, so the time it takes to move them varies. After locating the pattern, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to upwards of two hours to transport.” In 2010, Luck played a lead role in digitizing the card catalog. “I was instrumental in the transfer of knowledge from the card system to the computers,” he said. “I worked with Foundry Planner Donnie Morris and Pattern Planner Doug Boyd for six months to input information on the computer.” Currently, the Pattern Shop has a fully computerized system for locating patterns. “We use the computer, but we still have the paper system for backup,” said Luck. “I’m glad we have both, because without either system, it could take many days or weeks to locate a specific pattern. The new system also says a lot about NNS’ effort to incorporate new technology into old processes. As I’ve told younger shipbuilders many times before, ‘Technology is the way of the shipyard today.’” | By Lauren Ward
Shipbuilder Michael Luck locates one of the 5,000 patterns he knows by memory in the Pattern Shop’s warehouse, which houses more than 10,000 original patterns for parts of vessels built by NNS. Photo by John Whalen
A New Mast for
CVN 78
On March 16, craftsmen building the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completed the installation of the ship’s main mast. Nearly every trade working on CVN 78 was represented in the construction and pre-outfitting to ready the structure for its placement on top of the ship. The new mast weighs 70 metric tons, stands 54 feet above the island, and is a completely new design for Ford-class aircraft carriers. New features include increased protection for internal equipment and cabling, increased redundancy of antenna systems and, most visibly, a small compartment nicknamed “the pagoda,” which will house the latest generation of electronic warfare equipment and flat antenna arrays. Also, noticeably different from a Nimitz-class mast is the absence of the large rotating radar antennas. One small navigation radar remains as the only rotator. As a result, when underway, the Ford mast will look strangely still. The dual band radar arrays in the island perform all the functions of the “legacy” rotating radar systems. | By Dave Hamm
Photo by John Whalen
It was a sticky task – building a floating boat out of just duct tape. Yet, for teenagers, it may be one of the most effective ways to introduce engineering, and one of the most fun. On February 21 and 22, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), in partnership with NASA Langley and the Peninsula Engineers Council, invited 600 local high school students to explore their passion in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) while learning about the engineering profession and local career opportunities. Students were exposed to 30 different engineering projects through interactive displays manned by NNS and NASA engineers. Displays ranged from how to use iPads® to augment reality on a virtual aircraft carrier to how to test noise and vibration on submarines to how Space Exploration Vehicles are operated. Each day, the event concluded with a 45-minute
engineering challenge. Student teams had to build a duct tape boat that held the most weight, or build a Mars landing capsule with a plastic foam cup that had the most atmospheric drag. The students eagerly dove into the challenges, trying out different ideas and learning the practical challenges of the engineering process. “It’s inspiring to see so many young people who have an interest in STEM,” said Jennifer McClain, manager of NNS’ Career Pathways Program. “It’s to our benefit to harness this enthusiasm and educate students about the many career opportunities that are available to them, and to do it in a fun and memorable way.” | By Peter Stern Visit the NNS website to see more photos from the event: nns.huntingtoningalls.com/photos While looking through an iPad®, students experienced “augmented reality,” where 3-D digital projections are overlayed onto something physical – in this case, an aircraft carrier flight operations simulation board. Photo by Ricky Thompson
Making a Difference
Fulfilling a Mission to Serve
At the Peninsula Rescue Mission (PRM) in Newport News, Apprentice Craft Instructor Linda McMillian is known as “The Sausage Girl.” That’s because every Saturday for the past seven years, she has cooked breakfast sausage and vegetables for the homeless men and needy families who come to the Mission to get a hot meal. McMillian and her husband first got involved with PRM through their church. “I like to give back,” McMillian said. “I give because I can, and I believe it’s my mission and calling to give back.” PRM is just one of the organizations McMillian supports when she isn’t involved with a Newport News Shipbuilding Employee Resource Group or other community activity. On Tuesdays and Thursdays after she leaves the shipyard, she can be found at the Community Free Clinic
on 25th Street and Marshall Avenue. “I do a little filing and whatever I can there to help out,” she said. The Army veteran and mother of three adult children says that Newport News’ only free clinic couldn’t fulfill its mission to provide medical and dental care to lowincome and uninsured residents without the support of volunteers. McMillian, who has been teaching electrical skills at the shipyard for six years, enjoys connecting with people and helping individuals develop. “Volunteering is also a way for me to meet new people and learn different skills,” she explained. “Last year, I heard there were some awesome volunteer opportunities at the Newport News Police Station. I’ve applied and now I’m just waiting for my credentials to be approved so I can join them.” | By Gina Chew-Holman Apprentice Craft Instructor Linda McMillian spends Saturday mornings volunteering at the Peninsula Rescue Mission. Photo by Chris Oxley
Long Service MASTER SHIPBUILDERS
MARCH
Harry Bandy 40 years
Calvin Davis 40 years
Glenn Duck 40 years
Lee Edmunds 40 years
Carl Garner 40 years
Edward Gore 50 years
Roger Herndon 40 years
Jerome Hicks 40 years
Charles Hunter III 40 years
Ernest Jones 40 years
Joe Leach 40 years
Candy Matney 40 years
John Plaster 50 years
Joe Porch 40 years
Thomas “Rambo” Ransom 40 years
Earl Scott 40 years
Louis Seegraves 40 years
Charles Tweedy 40 years
Pearis White 40 years
Nadine Winkles 40 years
Yardlines is published 10 times a year for the employees of Newport News Shipbuilding. This issue of Yardlines was produced by: Jeremy Bustin, Gina Chew-Holman, Troy Cooper, Mike Dillard, Christie Miller, Eugene Phillips, LaMar Smith, Peter Stern, Susan Sumner and Lauren Ward. Photographs by: Chris Oxley, Ricky Thompson and John Whalen. Send comments, questions and story ideas to Yardlines editor: gina.chewholman@hii-nns.com or call 757-380-2627. To stop receiving Yardlines, go to nns.huntingtoningalls.com/Yardlines to unsubscribe. Look for more news at nns.huntingtoningalls.com.
Long Service MARCH 50 YEARS Edward M. Gore O46 John R. Plaster X91 40 YEARS Harry L. Bandy O58 Lorenza Clayborne X88 Calvin L. Davis Jr. X72 Glenn A. Duck X31 Frank L. Edmunds III X36 Carl W. Garner A572 Roger A. Herndon O36 Jerome C. Hicks O43 Robert R. Hunt X67 Charles F. Hunter III X11 Ross O. Johnson X42 Ernest L. Jones X36 Linkous D. Keene X70 Joseph D. Leach T53 Candice G. Matney M53 Joseph G. Porch Jr. X67 Thomas J. Ransom X33 Earl Scott X43 Louis W. Seegraves X32 Roberta H. Spencer O46 Melvin E. Spratley X42 Charles W. Tweedy O48 Edgar P. White III X36 Nadine R. Winkles O43 35 YEARS Michael E. Altizer X50 Mark D. Anderson O19 Clarence W. Bailey Jr. X36 John D. Barrett II X36 Philip D. Bourne X36 Roy L. Brothers X36
Mark A. Christian X18 Ernest H. Crutchfield O43 William J. Donovan O67 Jackie C. Dotson X36 Michael K. Fromal O48 Mark A. Goodwin O37 Richard L. Griffin X75 Kenneth A. Hall X36 Herbert C. Heil X84 Linwood E. Knox X33 Ricky J. Lamb X36 James A. Lattimore X18 Raymond Lewis X36 Gaynelle K. Love X71 Rudolph Mason X11 James H. Morings X33 Richard L. Murphy Jr. X36 Daniel G. Newman M40 Charles R. Noland O14 Richard J. Paquette O41 David A. Payton O67 David A. Perron X43 Allen R. Pierce Jr. O43 Edward S. Shook Jr. X36 Henderson L. Sisco X82 William E. Spruill II X71 James R. Wilson X18 30 YEARS Mario G. Agnello X31 Mark A. Anderson X36 Charles S. Apple A572 Juan D. Beckett X31 Walter L. Bell X11 Dana T. Black X32 Danny F. Bond X43 David A. Boyd E21
Dale L. Bridwell X18 David L. Bridwell Jr. X32 Johnnie L. Britt X11 Darryl L. Bush X70 Michael J. Cappiello O39 Walter A. Carter X11 Kathy G. Clark O53 Gregory E. Coe X36 Robert E. Cole O67 Emanuel L. Coleman X42 Kirk L. Cooke X31 Ronald S. Cooke O26 Curtis R. Cooper X10 Roger T. Craig X42 Anthony Cross X32 John Curry Jr. O46 John W. Davidhizar X32 Ronald L. Delk X11 Darryl C. Dent X32 Decarolo Dent X42 Steven C. Dent X71 Leonard M. Depriest Sr. X15 Gene B. Diggs X70 Billy Dunn X43 Sandy Granger X11 Gwyn L. Gridley X10 Daryl C. Hagwood O15 Leven Harrell Jr. X31 James W. Harris X43 Nathan R. Hassell X10 Michael S. Hawks X43 Paul G. Hudson X32 Jeffery T. Johnson X11 Tony L. Johnson X33 Gregory A. McCants X10 Marcus A. McCormick X70 William D. Merritt O41
Robert E. Morris Jr. O53 Douglas Newsome X32 Robert L. Ramsey X71 Dennis L. Ridley X33 Kevin P. Scherrer O67 John W. Seamster III O64 John L. Sheppard T55 Alvester Simmons Jr. AMSEC Randy F. Skeeter O67 Arnold R. Smith X87 Duane D. Smith X31 David W. Tarr X33 Wayne A. Tarr X31 David J. Wauhop X71 John W. Welch Jr. O67 Timothy M. Wells X31 Richard P. West X36 Bradley R. Whitley O68 Danny L. Wiggins X15 25 YEARS James M. Artis Jr. O14 Carol L. Belfiore E13 Gerald A. Billups E82 Russell A. Black O19 Pamela S. Blair AMSEC David P. Bolcar E01 Deborah Boyd E56 Merlin J. Boyd X36 Gary M. Boyle O79 Richard J. Campbell E34 Christopher E. Claud E45 Terri A. Council O54 Clement H. Crowder III E13 John W. Crutchfield Jr. X71 Rafael Diaz O37 Edward C. Evans E85
Stuart M. Fielding E24 Kenneth M. Forrest T56 Thomas E. Fromm E81 Thomas A. Gaskins E83 Musline A. George III X42 Roy W. Hawkins E17 Mark L. Helmick E84 Barbara J. Jordan X42 Virgil E. Kindred E51 Edward D. Klavenski E85 Hunter E. Lackey E85 Daniel J. Lapinski O04 Belynda K. Layne E21 Michael T. Lee X36 Terry O. McMillian X11 David Modzelewski E62 William W. Moore E13 Gary P. Neal T55 James A. Ozment O79 Karen A. Parker X33 Raymond E. Parsons E86 David W. Pearce E41 Kevin M. Ritton E82 Gale M. Royal E07 Deloris Saunders X31 Eric Scott X31 Kathryn C Shackles X31 William H. Sherrod E65 Wilton E. Spellman O68 Gary L. Spivey E84 Ivy P. Spivey O23 Tim E. Spradlin E83 Tracey L. Sumblin X33 Thomas L. Taluto E83 John C. Taylor E82 Bryan C. West III E25 Jeffery K. Wroblewski E83
20 YEARS David B. Ashley M20 Timothy G. Ballou X36 Wilbur R. Berry Jr. E21 Daniel P. Chabot X72 Steven Dowell X43 Jimmy R. Eure X33 Bryan K. Gilbert E14 Malachi Grandy Jr. X33 Bradley T. Hamilton AMSEC Isiah Heyward X33 Martin D. Holland X33 Richard W. Junk X36 Cecil B. King AMSEC Timothy C. Langdon O39 Jerome W. Lynch O43 Anthony Magwood. X82 Stacy F. Mann III X71 Saundra L. Marshall O57 Alton Moore Jr. O46 Walter A. Munden Jr. X70 Kenneth R. O Bryant O19 Bradley W. Price X89 Scott A. Prue X70 Nicholas D. Ratcliffe X31 Derrick T. Roberson O48 Brian K. Silva O19 Erskine C. Smith X31 Roger W. Trent M30 Darryl L. Wiggins X31 Harold A. Wiley X54 Michael Woodson X33
Long Service The following employees, who celebrated service anniversaries on February 29, were unintentionally omitted from the March Yardlines.
FEBRUARY
25 YEARS Otis J. Collins Jr. X71 Calvin Jacobs X33 Douglas A. Rainey X18
Retirements FEBRUARY Robert L. Barefield O46 Bobby E. Boone X11 Bobby G. Crandell O43 *Retired December 2012
Walter J. Davis X31 Sammy R. Naibauer E57 Otis M. Proctor Jr. X33
Jimmy L. Shoulars X33 Otis M. Silver O53
Charles Sullivan O79* James F. Thorne X11
Todd R. Thurman X84 George W. Washington X36
Brian Webber E60* Thomas N. Wilbern X36
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EAU CLAIRE WI PERMIT NO. 366
April 2013
breaks bread
Ellen Roughead, sponsor of the submarine Minnesota (SSN 783), and Cmdr. John Fancher, the ship’s commanding officer, cut a ribbon to officially open the galley and celebrate the crew’s first meal aboard the ship. Also pictured are Chief of the Boat Randy Reid (left) and Chief Culinary Specialist Vincent Gregonis. Photo by Chris Oxley