DON'T MISS: BEHIND THE SCENES OF A SAFETY VIDEO
SERVICE TO THE FLEET Norfolk Naval Shipyard
ANNUAL SAFETY ISSUE
"We Are America's Shipyard."
MARYLAND PROJECT SETTING NEW STANDARD IN WATERFRONT SAFETY
June 2015
USS. HARRY S. TRUMAN DEPARTS NNSY
DREW HOLLAND SHIPYARD SPOTLIGHT PAGE 16
COVER PHOTO BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
ALSO INSIDE: SHIPYARD INSIDER & HURRICANE SAFETY
Table of Contents
IN THIS HIS ISSUE features: 6 SUMMER SAFETY PRIORITY
There is a lot going on in and around our shipyard during this time of year.
7 TOUR DE CURE
NNSY employees bike 65 miles to raise money and awareness for diabetes.
14 SHIPYARD SPOTLIGHT
VPP Mentor of the Year, Drew Holland
16 RISK MANAGEMENT
Think before you work in order to avoid potential injuries.
17 ELECTRICAL SAFETY UPDATE
Make smart choices to avoid electrical shocks at home and at work.
18 VISIT FROM ADM. DAVIDSON
Admiral Davidson holds an All Hands Call at NNSY
20 BEHIND THE SCENES
Creating a Heat Stress Safety video for America's Shipyard
21 WELCOME ABOARD
Cmdr. Silsdorf takes over as NNSY's Production Resources Officer.
22 THE RHODE TO SUCCESS
Looking ahead to the USS Rhode Island's (SSBN-740) 27-month ERO
24 DRY DOCK 1 CAISSON
The Western Hemisphere's oldest dry dock gets a new caisson.
26 TRUMAN DEPARTURE
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) departs NNSY.
VOLUME 78 • NUMBER 5 SHIPYARD COMMANDER Captain Scott Brown DEPUTY COMMANDER Captain Brian Lepine COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM (AW/SW) Michael Reese PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER Terri K. Davis EDITOR Anna Taylor PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF Michael Brayshaw, Kristi Britt, April Brown, Floyd Logan, Curtis Steward EMAIL THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE nfsh_nnsy_pao@navy.mil EMPLOYEE INFORMATION HOTLINE (757) 396-9551 FRAUD, WASTE & ABUSE HOTLINE (757) 396-7971 SHIPYARD RADIO ADVISORY 1630 AM SERVICE TO THE FLEET is a Department of Defense publication and is authorized for members of the DoD. Contents of Service to the Fleet are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Service to the Fleet is published monthly. Submissions are due on the 10th of each month. The public affairs staff reserves the right to edit submissions for content and brevity.
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TERRI DAVIS Norfolk Naval Shipyard's New Public Affairs Officer By ANNA TAYLOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST Terri Davis’ vanity license plate may be the most accurate six-letter description of her lifestyle. It reads “PAO&MOM” in bold capitals, two titles Davis holds in high esteem. Davis, a 1987 graduate of Marshall University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Communication, earned her master’s degree in Sports Management with an emphasis in Communications from Ohio State University in 1989. She interned with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for one year, and later managed her father’s sporting goods store in Newport News. In 1995, Davis was hired as a Marketing Assistant for Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR). She was promoted to a Public Affairs Specialist and served as the Director of
Service to the Fleet Naval Tours and Information. In 1999, she was again promoted, this time to the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) position at Naval Station Norfolk, a post Davis held for the last 15 years. As the new PAO for Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), Davis will be working to grow her relationships with local media, maintain NNSY’s established community relationships, and network with other government agencies. Her main goal, however, is to keep the workforce informed on issues that may affect them. “One thing that has been discussed quite a bit is how to communicate with the workforce," Davis said. "That’s something I’m thinking about every day. I’m always searching for new ways to reach the backbone of the shipyard: the employees on the waterfront.” Davis lives in Newport News with her husband Randy and their two teenage daughters. As her license plate suggests, when she’s not working to build a better shipyard, she’s spending time with her family. “I like to scrapbook tremendously [when I’m not working], but I have two teenage daughters and their schedules do not allow for that,” she said with a laugh. “I am constantly on the go with their athletics and everything else they’re doing.” Michael Brayshaw, the Lead Public Affairs Specialist who served as Acting PAO prior to Davis' selection, believes she will be a remarkable addition to the team. “Terri’s many years of experience as PAO at Naval Station Norfolk provided her with not only wideranging expertise, but also valuable relations throughout the Navy community,” said Brayshaw. “Both will be of great benefit during her time at the shipyard.” “I am just so excited to be here,” said Davis. “I hope I can make a difference, meet the mission of the shipyard, and take care of the employees.”
“I’m always searching for new ways to reach the backbone of the shipyard: the employees on the waterfront.”
From the Commander
Safety in America's Shipyard touching the energized conductors. This event may seem like an unfortunate circumstance, but it shines a light on several problems with space and equipment ownership, leadership engagement, and employee understanding of safe working conditions. This is only one example out of many hazards. Our work is difficult and complex, and we must actively seek out these types of problems to report and resolve them before they can bite someone. The four elements of our Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) are:
•
"[The] VPP tenets form the foundation for our safety program at NNSY, and an effective program requires all of us...we can never relax our standards."
A core tenet of our united emphasis on well-being is workplace safety. We all have the right to work in a safe environment. If you come to work with ten fingers and ten toes, you have the right to leave with ten fingers and ten toes. This effort requires engaged personnel at all organizational levels that are personally involved in work procedures, job planning, space inspections, and equipment condition. Success requires all of us looking out for ourselves and our fellow shipyarders. One of our team mates was recently shocked while unplugging a piece of equipment from a power strip. The power strip had been overloaded for some time causing physical deformation and some melting of the power strip because of the large amount of current that had been passing through the circuit. When our team mate unplugged the cord, the poor condition allowed
4 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
Management leadership and employee involvement – requires actively engaged leaders who are out and about, and clear and open employee feedback • Worksite analysis – clutter-free, clean, organized • Hazard prevention and control – deck plate risk management, mental rehearsal during the job planning stages, engineering engagement to design safety into the job • Safety and health training – principle-centered training that we can apply on the deck plates These VPP tenets form the foundation for our safety program at NNSY, and an effective program requires all of us. As the power strip example above shows, we can never relax our standards. This issue of Service to the Fleet contains an article on Time Critical Risk Management that describes a process to assess specific hazards and/or unsafe acts that could already be present or occur during our daily tasks on the job. It’s up to each of us to identify those risks, find ways to implement controls, and discuss concerns with our supervisors. Each of us must own our work spaces and share responsibility in the safety of our work teams. A 2010 Safety Summit at NAVSEA identified five safety high risk teams in the areas of electrical, fall protection, confined space, energy control (lockout/tagout) and fire protection. The teams were formed and a corresponding corporate lead assigned at each
shipyard, with NNSY being the corporate lead for fall protection. Each team was tasked to review their shipyard’s program to address shortcomings in each area and to develop improvements. NNSY’s leads for these high risk teams are: Electrical - Nick Delphia, Code 950; Fall Protection - Jason Plummer, Code 970; Confined Space - Gerald “Andy” Anderson, Code 920; Energy Control (Lockout/Tagout) - Tim Wood, Code 980; and Fire Protection - Chris Clements, Code 300. If you have questions, concerns or ideas in these areas, please share them with our team leads. I commend everyone who performs these duties of higher risk at America’s Shipyard; you truly exhibit courage to meet the demands of our profession and the mission when it is hazardous, demanding or otherwise difficult. Now that we’re into June and the days are heating up, remember to stay hydrated, take water breaks, and be on the lookout for signs of heat stress. Know your own warning signs and watch for warning signs with your peers. Signs of heat exhaustion include: heavy sweating, weakness/fatigue, dizziness/ confusion, nausea, clammy/moist skin, pale or flushed complexion, muscle cramps, slightly elevated body temperature, fast and shallow breathing. Take action early and cool body temperature if you are exhibiting these signs to avoid the next stage, and most serious heat condition – heat stroke. Account for the temperature in your work planning and preparations. Things to consider while planning: access and intake of fluids, access to shade during work and during breaks, scheduling work to minimize extreme heat conditions, workforce acclimatization, self-monitoring and leadership engagement, and engineering controls. Let’s make it a safe summer in America’s Shipyard!
Capt. Scott Brown Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s 107th Commander
Maryland Project Setting New Standard In Waterfront Safety By KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST HEARING PROTECTION Every year, nearly 30 million people in the United States are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise. Various types of noise may result in acute (short term) or chronic (long term) effects and/or injuries. At NNSY, nuisance and hazardous noise levels can occur regularly.
For Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), safety is one of the founding principles. The Command Philosophy states, “your safety, security, health, and well-being are the top priority. We will personally support each other to achieve the top priority. We will invest time, effort, and money for the foundation of this priority.” It is everyone’s responsibility to look out for one another, making the effort to ensure they their shipyard brethren make it home in the same condition as when they came to work. And a strong force in waterfront safety is the USS Maryland Project (SSBN-738). “The USS Maryland project team is setting a new standard in waterfront safety,” said Code 106.2 Division Head, Michael Rice. “The project team was faced with a challenge to reduce injuries lower than the previous Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) availability (USS West Virginia), which had set the standard for SSBN ERO work by finishing their availability with a Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) of 3.08, lowest at that time. Accomplishing a 40% reduction in injuries based on the average.” The Maryland project stepped up to the plate, setting a TCIR goal at 3.03. They stand aggressive in their efforts, remaining under the goal since day one of the availability. "A key to our success was project management's responsiveness to any and all safety issues early in the availability,” said John Darlington, Maryland Project Superintendent. “This sent a clear message to the workforce and we gained their trust and buy-in that safety was in-fact the highest priority." As of April 17, Maryland’s current TCIR is 19% below their established goal and 10% below the established shipyard goal. “The project team has taken a proactive approach in improving its safety without waiting for a mishap to happen,” said Rice. “The project
team has shown us that even with production, cost, schedule, and quality being the core of any successful project, that safety of personnel has always been this team’s top priority.” To commemorate the project team’s efforts and strides, they were presented a safety flag on April 23 by Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) Director Jesse Alspaugh, Rice as well as other Code 106 personnel. “We appreciate the dedication to safety the Maryland project team has displayed over the past 28 months from the project superintendent down to every apprentice, mechanic, and supervisor that has been involved with work on the project and the support they have given NNSY in living up to the standards of being a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) star site,” said Rice. In addition to the safety award, three project zone managers, Wilco Johnson (Code 920), Louis Andrews (Code 740), and Curtis Everett (Code 970), were presented with a VPP Safety Coin in recognition of their actions in recognizing and correcting hazards in a timely manner. Providing 32 years of service to the government including four to the U.S. Navy, Everett is proud to serve and to aid his fellow shipyarders. “The team of woodcrafters and shipwrights that serve under my guidance are a very important part of safety on USS Maryland, installing handrails and scaffold to prevent fall hazards, and installing wood blanks over open holes,” he said. “I feel it is an honor to be recognized as one of the go-to-guys for safety. Being safe is not only important on the job but doing all phrases of life; there are family members who depend on their loved ones coming home in the same condition that they left. We as a shipyard can make this a safer work place by just caring about others and our own welfare."
Keep your hearing protection with you and readily available. Read all signs posted at the entrances to buildings and practice verbatim compliance. When in a building or other space, and a noise hazard sign is posted at a shop boundary; READ THE SIGN THOROUGHLY and follow the written directions. When crossing the “RED PPE LINE” located inside the industrial area, ALWAYS HAVE YOUR HEARING PROTECTION ON YOUR PERSON to be worn when needed. You need to wear hearing protection if you are unable to verbally communicate effectively within three feet of individuals with whom you are conversing. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and WEAR HEARING PROTECTION!
JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 5
From the Deckplate
Make Safety Your Summer Priority!
"We must all make sure we are taking every available opportunity to discuss safety measures and perform our assignments safely."
6 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
June is the official start of summer and at the shipyard, it’s Safety Month! Safety comes in all forms and it is not something that should be taken lightly. We must all make sure we are taking every available opportunity to discuss safety measures and perform our assignments safely. I know sometimes we can get in a hurry or feel rushed but we should always make time for safety! When in doubt, ask! Not only does safety prevent rework, it also reduces and eliminates potential injury or death. June marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. We have already seen a few disturbances out there, including Tropical Storm Ana. Hurricane season runs from June 1 until Nov. 30 every year. Do you have a plan? Do you have a disaster preparedness kit? When should you evacuate and where to? These are just some of the things to consider. More information can be found on the Ready Navy website at www.ready.navy.mil. Let’s all be prepared! Being prepared is just as important as safety and applies to many tasks, just ask those who served during World War II and participated in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. The courage and honor that those veterans displayed during that time is still evident in today’s service members! A special “thank you” goes out to all who have served or are currently serving, both civilian and military.
June is Caribbean-American heritage month. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this recognition. For more information on this observance and upcoming events visit www.caribbeanamericanmonth.org/home. Last but definitely not least, on June 14 we celebrate Flag Day. This has been the date since it was signed as an Act of Congress in 1949 by President Harry S. Truman. I want to wish the Sailors of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) the traditional "fair winds and following seas." Truman sailed from NNSY on Friday, May 22. I know the sailors were ready to get back out to sea and start training again. Here’s to each one of you who played a part in getting the ship ready to get underway, Job well done! In closing, I would like to remind everyone that June 21 is Father’s Day! I sure know I would not be where I am today if not for my dad and my father-in-law. Happy Father’s Day to my dad, the late Herbert Reese, and to my father-in-law, Paul! As always, it is an honor to be in the Navy and a great time to be a part of America’s Shipyard! - CMC Sends!
Mike Reese Command Master Chief
In Fine Feather
TOUR DE CURE: NNSY EMPLOYEES BIKE 65 MILES TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS FOR DIABETES By Anna Taylor • Public Affairs Specialist On the last Saturday in April, a group of Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) employees cycled 65 miles in the cold spring rain to raise awareness for diabetes. Tour de Cure is the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) signature fundraising cycling event and raises more than 26 million dollars annually for diabetes research and advocacy. This year, the event in Hampton Roads raised nearly 400,000 dollars. Matthew Diggs, a Facilities Coordinator for The Production Facility and Equipment Management Division (Code 985), started the Justice League with a few of his friends as a way to engage in small community activities to help under-privileged kids in Hampton Roads. Diggs rode 25 miles in 2014’s event and decided to return for the 2015 ride, challenging himself to complete the more strenuous 65-mile route. He inspired his coworkers to join the Justice League and ride with him, but it took some time for the complete team to form. “Most of them had not ridden a bike since childhood,” he said. “It took a while to get everyone re-acclimated to being on a bike,
Below: The Justice League team members - Matthew Diggs, Meredith Cutchin, Kenneth Bansah, Jamaal Watford, Greg Greene, Derek Deerfield, Sekou Vaughn, and Andrew Friend.
Above: The Justice League enjoys a scenic ride through Suffolk. Left: Diggs and his mother, Cynthia, an event volunteer.
especially a road bike.” The group practiced twice a week during the five weeks leading up to the fundraiser, biking between 20-40 miles each training session. This year’s ride hosted 878 riders and 88 teams. “It’s a huge event, and a lot of cyclists want to participate,” said Diggs. Riders complete a 10, 25, 65, or 100 mile route over country roads and rolling hills, starting in Suffolk and winding through Holland and Windsor. As a group, the Justice League raised about 4,400 dollars for the ADA thanks to contributions from friends and family, primarily through social media sharing and word of mouth solicitations. Their superhero themed costumes drew a lot of attention during the ride, especially as the miles dragged on. “A lot of people who were struggling at the end would latch on to our group so we could carry them,” said Andrew Friend, a contractor with Code 980 who was dressed like Superman. “They literally said we saved them,” said Diggs, who rode with a Captain America mask and shield. For Diggs, a type 1 diabetic, the desire to ride in Tour de Cure came from a personal place. “I decided to do this ride because it’s for a good cause,” he said. “People probably don’t know as much about juvenile diabetes. A lot of people don’t understand there are a lot of kids with type 1 diabetes.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 29 million children and adults in this country are diagnosed with diabetes. The other members of the Justice League had mixed motivations. “I know a lot of diabetics, and I used to love bike riding as a kid,” said Derek Deerfield, Code 980 Supervisor, who rode dressed as Thor, complete with a red cape and lightning-covered spandex. The Justice League plans to return for the 2016 event, potentially for the 100 mile course. “My goal would be to have as many people to do it as possible,” said Diggs. JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 7
Shipyard Insider their vital support on submarine availabilities at the shipyard. The honorees were: Carl Edward Albright, Melvin Berry, David Grillo, Marco Sosa, Joseph Harris, ET1 Timothy Chapman, Norvis Dabney, James Holt, Mike Jackson, MM1 David Moody, Derwin Sharpe, and Brian Slivinski. Photos by Luke Beasley, NNSY Photographer.
» POSITIVE YARDAGE All Hands Shipyard Commander, Captain Scott Brown, held an All Hands meeting with the shipyard workforce Monday, May 4, in Bldg. 163. Brown discussed the shipyard’s priorities in the coming months and years as part of the Shipyard Improvement Plan, which includes initiatives ranging from enhancing employee training and education to improving shipyard facilities. “This is a positive thing,” said Brown. “We’re moving forward, we’re learning and we’re getting better.” Photos by Shayne Hensley, NNSY Photographer. What About Bobb? Congratulations to Commander Chris Bobb, honored May 1, with a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his time as Fleet Maintenance Submarines Production Management Assistant and Department Head for MidAtlantic Region Calibration Center at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) from May 2014 to May 2015. During the past year, Bobb oversaw 14 submarine maintenance availabilities and 11 voyage repair periods. “He’s a great officer! It’s good for me to be able to give him an award and see him off,” said Shipyard 8 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
Above: Capt. Brown addresses the workforce on May 4. Below, clockwise from left: Brown and Cmdr. Bobb, NNSY Sailors at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, NCMA Great American Pick-Up, and Submarine Honorees.
Commander, Captain Scott Brown. Photos by Shayne Hensley, NNSY Photographer. Congratulations Cmdr. Delaney Congratulations to Commander Luc Delaney, who received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on May 6. Delaney was recognized for his meritorious service while serving as Deputy Project Superintendent and Submarine Project Officer at Norfolk Naval Shipyard from Dec. 2012 through April 2015.
Demonstrating outstanding leadership and managerial skills, Delaney spearheaded numerous maintenance availabilities on behalf of the shipyard. Submarine Honorees Rear Admiral Michael E. Jabaley, Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Deputy Commander for Undersea Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command recognized several Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) employees April 29 for
Congratulations Sailors! Congratulations to Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Sailors LN1 Cassandra Hunt, MA2 Aretha Worthen and ICSN Leonel Roldan! The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce paid tribute to these Sailors during its biannual Military Recognition Reception, held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott April 10. Great American Pick-Up Members of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Chapter of the Naval Civilian Managers Association (NCMA) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69) ship’s force participated in the Great American Pick-Up April 18, cleaning up around the shipyard perimeter and along Effingham Street. Thank you to all who supported this event! Photo by Tony Anderson, NNSY Photographer.
PHOTO BY SHAYNE HENSLEY, NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
Buzz and Bytes
Empowerment Seminar The Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Naval Civilian Managers Association (NCMA) hosted a forum April 30, opening discussions between attendees ranging from superintendents to apprentices. The topic was the word "empowerment" and what it means to employees at NNSY, as well as if they feel empowered in their work at the current time and what could the shipyard and their leadership do to help them feel empowered. As one of the Shipyard Commander’s big initiatives for the workforce, the discussion allowed the attendees a chance to share their individual feelings on empowerment as well as the shipyard as a whole. Chicken or Eagle? On May 8, Code 970’s Quality Assurance Department hosted the first Eagle Flight Training session for 30 female employees ranging from mechanics to apprentices. The goal of the lunch and learn, sponsored by George Mack, Code 970 Deputy Superintendent, was to empower the female workforce by comparing the qualities of chickens and eagles. Guest speakers Valarie Simmons, Code 970 Non-Nuclear CTD Manager, Keyonia Smith, Code 930 Senior Manager, and Iris Wright, Code 970 Baseline Advanced Industrial Manager discussed leadership development, proper workplace attire, work-life balance, professional conduct, and how to plan for the future. The event was coordinated by Doreka Porter-Wright and Shaysha Banks from Code 970’s Quality Assurance Department.
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Identify Theft Assistance Did you know the Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP)'s financial counseling services include the Identity Theft Assistance Program? Under this program, DON employees have access to several identity theft benefits including unlimited telephonic consultations with Fraud Resolution Specialists (FRS), assistance with restoring identity and good credit, a free "ID Theft Emergency Response Kit," assistance with the costly steps to dispute fraudulent debts, and help identifying the "Preventative Steps" to take in order to avoid future ID theft and damages to your credit score and reputation. Contact DONCEAP to access these and many offer EAP and work-life support services 24 hours a day at 1-844-DONCEAP (1-844366-2327) or at DONCEAP.foh. hhs.gov.
MATE ROV Competition Norfolk Naval Shipyard representatives participated in the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) 2015 Mid-Atlantic Regional Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Underwater Robotics Competition May 2 at Old Dominion University. Representatives included members of the shipyard’s Naval Civilian Managers Association (NCMA), supporters of NNSY’s Outreach Program, and military volunteers. This year's theme for the competition was Science and Industry in the Arctic. Students had to collect and identify biological species under a sheet of ice and on the seafloor, calculate the volumetric measurements of an iceberg, deploy an acoustic sensor, and repair a pipeline. This was the ninth year Nauticus Maritime Center has hosted the competition. A total of 13 teams and 113 participants from Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina took part in the event. Photos by Renée Russell, NAVFAC Architect.
Shipyard Shutdown Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) will curtail operations this year beginning Thursday, Dec. 24, Forty (40) hours of annual leave will be needed to cover the 2015 holiday curtailment period. Please plan your leave accordingly. The shipyard will be closed for all but essential operations on Dec. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, 2015, and Jan. 1, 2, and 3, 2016. Dec. 25, 2015 and Jan. 1, 2016 are official government holidays. Normal operations will resume Jan. 4, 2016.
» FLY THE COOP Mapping Portsmouth Antique maps provide a wealth of information about how our surroundings have changed through time. Come see a 1920 bound volume of fire insurance maps of Portsmouth, on display from June 6 – June 30, and participate in activities that will help you understand how maps are made. Join the museum curator to get a closer look at some antique Portsmouth maps including 1889 and 1900 atlases, and an 1871 Colton’s Atlas of the World. At the Lightship Portsmouth, find out how sailors used the stars to map their way to their destinations. Free admission as part of the First Saturday programming series. 6 June 2015, 10am-5pm Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, Portsmouth, Va.
» NOTABLE QUOTABLE “That’s what we do as a shipyard. We overhaul the submarine and turn it back to the fleet. That’s what we’re here for, that’s the most important thing we do, and we need to grab hold of the best and brightest and most talented folks we can get to execute that mission." John Walker Code 300 Project Superintendent Norfolk Naval Shipyard representatives at the MATE Mid-Atlantic ROV competition.
JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 9
JUNE 1 – NOVEMBER 30
WHAT IS A HURRICANE? A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that originates over tropical waters in the Atlantic and typically moves in a northwest direction. It is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms rotating counterclockwise.
HAZARDS Strong winds bring flying debris and missile hazards. Tornadoes may be embedded with thunderstorms and normally form when the hurricane makes landfall. Torrential rain and fllooding are a serious risk when more than six inches of precipitation falls in less than eight hours.
CYCLONE STAGES A hurricane starts as a low pressure center with sustained winds of less than 23mph. The storm progresses to a tropical depression with sustained winds of 23-39mph, and stations begin to send out numbered warnings. The depression progresses to a tropical storm with sustained winds of 39-72mph, and storm naming begins. The tropical storm develops into a hurricane (tropical cyclone) with sustained winds greater than 74mph.
CATEGORIES CATEGORY 1 Sustained Wind Speed: 74-95mph Damage: Minimal CATEGORY 2 Sustained Wind Speed: 96-110mph Damage: Moderate CATEGORY 3 Sustained Wind Speed: 111-130mph Damage: Extensive CATEGORY 4 Sustained Wind Speed: 131-155mph Damage: Extreme CATEGORY 5 Sustained Wind Speed: More than 155mph Damage: Catastrophic
STORM STATISTICS On average, 11 tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico each year. 6 of those storms become hurricanes. 3 hurricanes are likely to strike the U.S. coastline during the regular hurricane season. 1 hurricane is classified as a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher).
INAUGURAL WELLNESS FAIR SUPPORTS COMMAND PHILOSOPHY By Kristi Britt • Public Affairs Specialist Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) held its first Wellness Fair May 20. Booths were stationed outside of Bldg. 163 featuring representatives from Portsmouth Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Division as well as the Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP). “The purpose of the Wellness Fair is to promote the Shipyard Commander’s Command Philosophy because well-being is a high priority for us,” said Barbra Downey, Code 1100 Executive Director. “We want to make sure that we as employees at the shipyard are taking care of ourselves and are in a better position to serve others.” Employees were able to visit the booths and talk with representatives of the programs about what is offered to them as DoD Civilians and Military. Code 223’s Mike O’Toole, the Health and Safety Representative for the Engineering Department, was among many who came out to attend the fair. “There’s a lot of good stuff being represented and I wanted to gather as much as I could so I can spread the word to the employees through bulletins and things of that nature. We as a whole want our employees to know what all there is to 12 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
do and what the shipyard and MWR have to offer.” DONCEAP provided various bulletins on work/life benefits as well as support for a variety of issues (including childcare, finances, eldercare, identity theft, legal services, alcohol and substance abuse, and more). Their services are a free benefit to all DoD Civilians and their families. MWR promoted their various services and programs (including the Callaghan Fitness Center, the Auto/Hobby Shop, the Child Development Center and much more). “Our team did a fantastic job promoting what we offer,” said Chad Rickner, Portsmouth MWR Director. “They played music to liven things up, challenged participants with a Plank Challenge (one guy lasted seven minutes, wow!), and gave away some coupons. Overall it was a very lively and interactive event.” “We really just want to get the word out that MWR is here for shipyard employees to utilize,” said Jackie Stiffler, Fitness Coordinator at Callaghan Fitness Center. “We have so many facilities that military and civilians alike can use. We want to spread the word and help promote wellness across the board.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MILITARY AND CIVILIAN WELLNESS: For more information on DONCEAP, visit donceap.foh.hhs.gov. For more information on MWR, visit www.discovermwr.com. Check out NNSY MWR's Facebook Page at www.facebook. com/nnsy.mwr.
From: Vice Chief of Naval Operations To: Norfolk Naval Shipyard Employees I would like to commend you for you exceptional efforts supporting critical work at NNSY during inclement weather events of February 2015. Your actions personify the Navy Core Values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. You superbly demonstrated commitment to meet the demands of our mission. You made personal tough decisions to the benefit of our Navy. Your dedicated support of key events on availabilities on the shipyard helped ensure the U.S. Navy is ready to execute its global missions. It is people like you who truly make Norfolk Naval Shipyard “America’s Shipyard!” Job Well Done! Michelle J. Howard
JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 13
SHIPYARD SPOTLIGHT
VPP MENTOR OF THE YEAR:
Drew Holland By KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Code 106’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Manager Charles “Drew” Holland believes “everything happens for a reason” when it comes to his involvement with safety. Holland has been involved with Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) VPP program since 2011, but his experience alongside VPP has been seventeen years in the making. With his wealth of knowledge, perseverance and positive attitude, he’s helped ensure NNSY maintains its status as a VPP Star Site. He has also dedicated his time and energy to touring other VPP Star Sites. In addition, he is currently mentoring two Norfolk sites: Norfolk Ship Support Activity (NSSA), and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) in their preparation for the VPP application process. Thanks to his efforts, Holland was awarded the Special Government Employee (SGE) 2015 Region III VPP Mentor of the Year on March 4. Holland’s journey with VPP started seventeen years ago with Union Camp, now known as International Paper (IP) Mill, in Franklin,Va. IP was beginning to become involved with VPP, a government program that encourages the employers and employees to maintain their own safety through active ownership and engagement. Holland joined the paper mill safety team to build up its safety program after a personal experience swayed his decision. “We were implementing 'Lock, Tag, and Try' and had just started this program. During a group lockout I went in last to undo my lock. When you are working on a piece of equipment, sometimes you have 14 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
five or six mechanics who all put their lock on a group lock box that holds the main keys to unlock the power sources to start that particular machine so no one can start or stop the machine and risk injury to themselves and others who may be in the vicinity,” Holland explained. “When I came out to remove my lock however, it was gone. I looked around trying to figure out what could have happened to my lock and tag with my information on it. That tag tells the operator of the machine that someone is there and it’s unsafe to work the machine. Because all the tags were gone however, it was saying that it was okay to start. If I hadn’t had come out last and noticed my tag was missing, we would have had a problem and I could have gotten myself hurt or worse. That moment led me to safety. I began with safety committees and became part of the VPP safety audit team for IP.” Holland began to train and visit other VPP sites in order to make sure they maintain their VPP status while also learning from them what tips they can provide as well. In 2007, he was hired in NNSY’s Structural Department (Code 920) and soon after joined NNSY’s Safety Department (Code 106). There he was approached by Jim Kasey, now retired, who asked if he knew anything about VPP. NNSY had become a Star Site in 2006 and the code was looking for someone with the knowledge and experience to help maintain the program. From
PHOTOS BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
there, Holland became part of VPP for NNSY and in 2012 became its program manager. NNSY received its second recertification as a VPP Star Site in 2014, and Holland’s efforts were an instrumental part in the preparation and successful site evaluation by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He engages in all aspects of VPP, including serving as the Shipyard Commander’s representative in organizing and presenting the shipyard’s OSH Policy Council monthly meeting with safety committee members and management. He also educates the employees at NNSY by developing VPP products such as flyers, safety books, and presentations. He regularly briefs personnel from the ships regarding the VPP safety program prior to each availability. He spends a lot of time talking with the employees and contractors of NNSY on the benefits of the VPP program, both in person and through various safety fairs throughout the shipyard. In addition to working safely at NNSY, Holland strives to maintain safety outside the gate. “I wear my proper [Personal Protective Equipment] PPE. I have a family owned business and I do a lot of welding and cutting steel. My two sons and co-workers are helping me and I make sure they are protected,” he shared. “It’s the same as being here in the shipyard. If I walk through shops and see someone without glasses, I don’t yell at them and chew them out for it. There are a lot of young kids here and you need to lead by example. I talk to them and share that I want them to go home safely and I provide examples for them to relate to. I want to mentor them, not enforce them. Hit home and you will hopefully talk them into a safer life. We’re hoping to slowly change the mental model here at the shipyard. We’ve got to get the job done; if everyone practiced Operational Risk Management (ORM) while they worked the job would go a whole lot faster and would be a whole lot safer.” While Holland’s efforts in VPP earned him the Mentor of the Year award for 2015, it came as a complete surprise to the VPP manager for NNSY. “I’ve been in VPP a long time. I go out and visit other sites and I help maintain safety here at the shipyard. It’s what I live for,” said Holland. “I’ll be honest; I don’t like being in the spotlight and having the attention. My goal is simple really. I want to get our folks home safely. If I do that even for one person here, I feel I’ve done my job. "Being mentor of the year, it’s something. VPP in the shipyard isn’t about me, it’s the shipyard. The Yard has done some hard work to get to this point in VPP, I’m just here to help maintain it and provide that awareness to the workers. We have a real good management safety program here and a lot of knowledgeable program managers in Code 106.” NNSY will strive to remain a VPP Star Site in the coming years, with Holland and his team putting forth all of their efforts to maintain the safety here at the shipyard. “We have a young workforce now. A lot of people are retiring. Our challenge is to keep VPP alive and continue to train and give awareness through safety fairs and handbooks throughout the shipyard. That’s our biggest challenge,” Holland urged. “Wear your proper PPE, follow the rules and regulations, practice ORM, look out for yourself first then your shipyard brothers and sisters. If you’ve done those things, you’ve done your employee involvement with VPP. Stop that person who’s not wearing PPE, stop that person who is about to do something wrong that may not know. Don’t be the one to make the mistake because you didn’t say anything. Do your part, help maintain VPP.” JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 15
Time critical
management
By RON FULLER • CODE 106 OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM MANAGER Have you ever been hurt at work or at home and almost felt like, "Where did that come from?" In a lot of mishap scenarios, individuals who have been hurt will tell you that they could not have imagined getting hurt the way they did. You know what? There could be something major contributing to why they could not have imagined such a thing. That reason would be that far too often, individuals start tasks without having given much thought to how they might get hurt. They may think about something as basic as “am I wearing my personal protective equipment?” But that is where it would typically end. In order to truly protect ourselves, we must carry that thought process further to think about the specific hazards and/or unsafe acts that could be present or generated with what we are getting ready to do. In the Navy, and in the shipyard, we call this type of thinking Time Critical (meaning on the spot right before we start) Risk Management (TCRM).
• • •
What can hurt me or those around me today? What am I doing about it? (See NOTE at end of this article) If I can’t do anything, who will I tell?
WHEN SHOULD IT BE DONE?
HOW DO I DO IT?
ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS: • • •
Identify & assess risk Implement controls to prevent injury/mishap Discuss concerns with your supervisor
Remember: There is no such thing as zero risk with any work you do. The secret to not being hurt is how you, as an individual, continuously manage that risk. That’s it! The three-question time-critical process is meant to be used by all shipyard employees as a mental model for how we approach the work we do. It's as simple as "1, 2, 3," and certainly not very time consuming, but this simple process can save lives! Note: In your zeal to fix things, be very cautious about taking on corrective actions that could result in your exposure to the original or
• • • •
Pre-job brief Transiting to and from the jobsite At the jobsite While performing work
additional hazards. Example: You discover an exposed hanging wire. In the proces of trying to get the hazard corrected (a good thing) and save time doing it, you decide to wrap some electrical tape around the wire. Your intentions are honorable; you do not want anyone to get hurt, but you wind up receiving an electrical shock. Your corrective actions should always be to guard the area, prevent others from coming in contact with the hazard, and notify your supervisor so that an electrician can be called.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY UPDATE By Nick Delphia • Electrical Safety Program Manager
Recently, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) has seen an increase in reported electrical shocks. Given the fact that we have an active waterfront and an influx of new hire employees, it is everyone’s responsibility to look out for the safety of others. In March, the Electrical Community of Practice (ECoP) noticed an upward trend in the amount of electrical shocks being reported. On March 22, the ECoP investigated the seventh shock for calendar year 2015. Last year, NNSY had 7 electrical shocks for the entire year. The ECoP conducted a thorough causal analysis to identify commonalities to all the shocks that were reported during the past two years. The review could not identify any specific trends or repeat causes to the electrical shocks (i.e. damaged electrical equipment, workmanship/quality issues, etc.) but the team did identify a negative trend resulting in additional employees receiving shocks and/or exposing other employees to electrical hazards by not following the process for reporting electrical shocks or out-of-normal/damaged electrical equipment response procedure. There was an increase in the amount of electrical shocks directly attributed to the employees involved not following and adhering to the Electrical Shock Response Procedure. Had this process been followed, the multiple employees receiving shocks per event would have been eliminated.
Why should you report the shocks? First, you must report any electrical shock for your own safety. You will be sent for a medical evaluation to ensure your body did not sustain any injury due to the electrical shock. Just like a light switch can turn off a light bulb, electricity can turn off your heart. It is extremely important that qualified medical personnel conduct an evaluation to ensure your have no hidden effects from the shock. Second, once you initiate the Electrical Shock Response Procedure, the ECoP Electrical Response Team (ERT) will immediately begin an investigation. This is important to prevent others from receiving an electrical shock as well. Why initiate the Work Team Investigation (WTI)/Critique process? All shocks must be reported and investigated. Employees tend to view the WTI process as a negative experience, as they believe they will get in trouble if they are involved in the event. The WTI process is designed to gather all the facts leading up to the event, and to identify a root cause for the shock, not to point fingers or administer disciplinary action. Why are the investigations so important? On Jan. 16, a Shop 67 employee received an electrical shock while using a piece of test equipment. The initial investigation revealed that the employee received an electrical shock from an adjustment knob on the test unit. During discussions with the vendor, the knob was modified to prevent the knob from being inadvertently removed. When the vendor conducted tests after the design change, they did not connect the meter in the configuration that the Navy uses, and did not identify that voltage was present on the knob screw. Once NNSY notified the vendor of the problem, they
confirmed the problem existed on all meters with that design change, and issued a recall. NNSY began notifying all other corporate shipyards, as well as Navy Safety Center to suspend the use of all of these types of meters. NAVSEA sent an all hands message to the fleet to immediately stop use of this specific type of meter until the vendor supplied a safety modification. This is an excellent example of knowledge sharing throughout the Navy community based upon our investigation. As you can see, there are lessons to be learned from each shock investigation. If the Shop 67 employee did not immediately report the electrical shock, there is no telling how many people could have received a shock from this type of equipment. If you think you have received an electrical shock, err on the side of caution and report it. Employees are reminded to utilize Operational Risk Management (ORM) principles to take a second look before using electrical tools and equipment. Perform a visual inspection to ensure there is no damage. If something doesn’t look right, don’t use it, and call for help. You are responsible for your own safety. When using electrically powered tools around water, be sure to have ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. At home, plug tools into a GFCI protected outlet; at work, use a GFCI pigtail adapter available from the tool room. Never use any tool with wet or damp hands. Don’t leave your safety knowledge at the shipyard, always use ORM at home whenever you use electricity. Remember, electricity can be a killer. Don’t be the next statistic.
JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 17
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Welcomes Admiral Philip Davidson By KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST Admiral Philip Davidson, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, conducted an All Hands Call May 27 for personnel at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). More than 2,000 attended to hear Davidson discuss the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) and what it means to the workforce. An operational framework, OFRP is used for delivering rotationally deployed units and strike groups to fulfill Global Force Management Allocation Plan (GFMAP) commitments while continuing to provide surge capability. It is about aligning, synchronizing, and optimizing the numerous manning, training, and equipping processes underpinning the Navy’s production of combat ready units and strike group. In NNSY’s case, the workforce is part of a bigger picture: the United States Navy. And its efforts contribute to the bigger picture. “My service, the service of all men and women in uniform, your service, it’s all about the day-to-day, the grind. It’s the work that goes into serving the fleet,” said Davidson. “Let me tell you what really matters to me, you folks here every day grinding it out. That is what generates the readiness of the force, that is what makes the things we buy last, that’s what causes our adversaries and potential enemies to look out the window, see the United States Navy, think to themselves, ‘you know what I don’t think today is the day.’ Every time that happens, we win. And that is built on you going out and getting the work done.” In addition, Davidson shared his experiences from his NNSY visit in March 18 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
2015, his expectations for the shipyard and the hiring push. In closing, Davidson said, “It’s my job to make the fleet ready to fight the enemies. I want you to know that you’re an important part of making that happen. The ships have to be ready to fight and win. The work that goes on here makes that happen. The capabilities that give the labor to make that ship ready for each successful deployment, those capabilities are delivered here. The refreshment of capabilities that are built into that ship, that happens with the good maintenance work that happens here. "I know every day it can seem like a grind. Getting up in the morning, getting in your car, pouring through the traffic of
the gate and getting on site but the grind is what I’m thankful for. Your service dayin and day-out. Don’t let anyone ever tell you it’s only about one thing. It’s about the whole thing and what you do every day. So I thank you Norfolk Naval Shipyard, you are the people that make the fleet on the East Coast of the United States go and I’m incredibly grateful for that.” Davidson, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, oversees 125 ships, 1,200 aircraft, and 103,000 Sailors and civilian employees. Earlier in his career, he commanded the U.S. SIXTH Fleet and Naval Striking & Support Forces NATO, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT, USS Gettysburg (C6-64), and USS Taylor (FFG-50).
TEEING UP FOR SUCCESS By KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
With a partnership established between Temporary Facilities (Code 900F) and the Production Facility and Equipment Management Division (Code 980), Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) is stepping up to the tee with line drives towards bettering facilities. The self-help initiative is fairly new at the shipyard and is all about shipyard workers being able to ‘self-help themselves.’ Tim Spitler, Code 900F Superintendent, says, “We started this program to restore pride in the shipyard and its workforce. The program gives them the ability to help themselves so they can take more pride in their jobs and their workplace. We want this to help improve facilities as well as boost morale as a whole.” The program revolves around a simple question: “what can I do to help my shop and myself?” With the self-help initiative in place, the partnership between 900F and 980 works as an avenue to provide the tools and the teachings to better the work environment. Building relationships with the shops and codes as well as apprentices and leadership, those who seek assistance around their workplace reach out to the team which then works to provide the tools and training needed to maintain the wishes of the shops. The partnership is fairly recent, with Code 900F and many of the 980 groups being brand new. “Five years ago, there were only two groups working these issues. Code 981 and 982 were focused on the drydocks side of the house and the equipment side of the house,” says Bill Ladow, Code 982 Waterfront Support Team Leader. “About two years ago, Steven Erickson [Code 980 Superintendent] came onboard and our group was separated into different sections to have specific focus throughout the shipyard and our off-yard facilities. We’ve taken a lot of initiative and responsibility in bettering the shipyard.” Erickson added, “Our facilities team had to go through their forming, storming and norming phase to get to their performing stage. Any team does that. You can expect to see results from us.” With the self-help initiative in place, the teams have gone above and beyond in ensuring they are ready and able to help the shops
in NNSY as well as at their off-yard affiliates. Sherri Bailey, Code 900F Team Leader, expressed her appreciation for her team and their efforts. “We’re going through a difficult time right now with the new cleaning contract. My mechanics team has gone above and beyond the line of duty by coming in on the weekends and cleaning the restrooms. They do it so the waterfront production teams can come in Monday morning and have clean, safe, functional restrooms. My guys understood the contract was on delay and so they made a habit every day of cleaning up after themselves and taking care of the facilities. They are truly self-helping themselves and the shipyard, and I am so proud of them. And their efforts have inspired others across the shipyard to self-help themselves as well. And that’s an impressive feat.” The self-help team is standing ready to aid the workforce, providing the tools needed to improve the overall view of the shipyard. And for Spitler, he hopes the program is something that will last a lifetime. “A legacy I personally want to leave behind is a program that is sustainable. I want this program to constantly be built up by the people involved,” he shared. “It is established and I want it to be maintained and going above and beyond expectations. With this program, we want to benefit the installation and our shipyard family.” The self-help team leaders consist of Spitler (900F), Cmdr. Maria Silsdorf (900), Erickson (980), Bailey (900F), Bruce Phelps (900J – Job Readiness Cells Manager), Ruth Riley (981 Capital Investment Branch Manager), Ladow (982), Raphael Gagnon (983 – Industrial Engineering Branch Manager), Mike Wassell (984 – Facilities Planning Branch Manager), Derek Deerfield (985 – Facilities Engineering Support Branch Manager), and Jason Bailey (986 – Temporary Facilities Branch Manager). Stay tuned for future Service to the Fleet issues that spotlight the team and what their respective codes do to align themselves with the shipyard mission. JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 19
PHOTOS BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
scenes behind the
heat stress safety video By KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Have you ever found yourself working hard in the blistering heat of the summer months, your body barely able to function properly as the sweat beads down your neck? Or perhaps you stopped sweating altogether, your body soon shutting down completely from the stress? Do you know what to do if that happens? Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) wants you to be prepared should a heat-related situation arise. Together, the Safety Department (Code 106) and the Shipyard Instructional Design Center (SIDC, Code 1170) have created a safety video detailing heat stress and heat exhaustion and what steps should be taken in the event. “We wanted to give the employees a live-action sequence of what’s going on versus us telling them what happens,” said Charles “Drew” Holland, Code 106’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Manager. “We want to create awareness and capture what’s going on and what’s happening to prevent injuries and illnesses.” Created to use for training purposes, the video provides a visual step-by-step tutorial on what happens when someone working at the shipyard experiences distress due to heat. Jim Kiraly, a writer for Code 1170, worked together with Code 106’s Heat Stress Program Manager, Kendell Weeks, to create a script for the video. The location was mapped out and chosen by Gregory Boyd, a videographer for Code 1170. “We walked the areas to pick the best shooting spot and Bldg. 163’s multiple mock/shipboard area was picked by design. There was a lot of depth and color to shoot so I jumped at the chance to film there,” said Boyd. Gathering talent from the Welding Shop, Boyd and fellow videographer Chris Abaya met with Holland and the talent May 6 to begin the filming process. The story depicted a welder who is shown to be overheating on the job, his coworker stepping in to pull him to a safe place to cool him down and get help. Safety workers arrive to make sure he is given water and is properly cared for as they call in the situation, getting him medical attention as soon as possible. Along with the visual scene, viewers are provided helpful information about heat stress and heat exhaustion and what they can do to combat the situations safely. “The video is turning out better than I thought and expected,” said Boyd. “There was great lighting in the building and we’ve got a lot of great industrial sound in the background. The talent worked well in the spotlight and we’ve got a lot of great content to work with.” Holland added, “It’s everything I could have hoped for and more. These guys from 1170 are the best people to work with. With everything we’ve asked for, they’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty to get it done and we’re really happy to have them onboard with this project.” 20 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
The heat stress video is just the start for the program, with more videos like it to come in the future. “We really want to make these videos in accordance with what’s going on directly in the shipyard and what needs to be addressed,” said Holland. “For example, slips, trips and falls are big problems currently in the shipyard and we’re working on creating a video to address those issues in detail to coincide with the designated paths for safer walkways created by Code 900F and NAVFAC.” Boyd cheered, “I can’t wait to do more of these videos in the future. We’ll be ready and eager to start the next project."
Commander Beth Silsdorf returns to NNSY as Production Resources Officer By MICHAEL BRAYSHAW • LEAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
There’s a quote that hangs inside the office of the new Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Production Resources Officer. It says, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” The quote is by Dr. Seuss. That quote, and who it comes from, points to both the whimsical and impassioned sides of Commander Beth Silsdorf—on one side, there’s the commander who laughs often with her coworkers, thinks Big Hero 6 is an awesome introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and has a big red button on her desk emblazoned with an acronym you won’t find in the Dictionary of Naval Abbreviations. On the other, there’s the commander who has her white board adorned with management mantras (“great leaders always start with why”), uses terms like “force multiplier” in casual conversation, and has 17 copies of The Serving Leader in her office. Reflecting on that quote from The Lorax, Silsdorf said, “If you feel passionate about something, then you believe you are a force for making something better. One person can make such a big difference. One person can completely change your attitude about something. And then you go off and change someone else’s attitude. It’s an infectious thing.” She added, “There are lots of people at the shipyard who are passionate about what they do, they care about the shipyard and they care about the people. Those are our force multipliers.” For her 25-year carrier-centric naval career, Silsdorf is now on her third stint at NNSY, beginning in 1998 for USS George Washington’s (CVN-73) first Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). After that, Silsdorf transitioned from the Surface Warfare Officer community to become an Engineering Duty Officer. She returned to NNSY in 2003, over the next three years serving as the Inside Shop Coordinator for George Washington’s 2003 DPIA and working in the Business and Strategic Planning Office. Considering the responsibilities of Production Resources Officer,
Silsdorf said, “What prepared me most for this job was I did a tour in Japan at [the Ship Repair Facility] in Yokosuka. I was the repair officer, but a lot of my responsibilities were production officer-type things. I got some good experience there. And my last job, I was chief engineer on the [USS] Gerald R. Ford. In a [Pre-Commissioning Unit] environment, so much of your focus is the people development piece. I had to make sure my people were being adequately trained and prepared to operate systems on the Ford. That’s kind of what we do here.” To Silsdorf, adequate training and preparation isn’t just an important aspect of employee success, but the very foundation of it. She thinks there should be more organic opportunities during the workday to learn from one another. Improvement, pride and engagement all start in the seemingly mundane tasks of the day— leaders and employees just need to seize those opportunities to learn from each other and grow together while executing the Navy mission. “I want to start a movement where everybody feels like they are invested in someone’s development,” she said. “The culture that we have right now is that the development and training is all the responsibility of the training branches. Everybody’s got a role in developing people. You’ve got to look at every interaction as a teaching-slash-learning moment. That’s my biggest priority.” Which brings us back to that Dr. Seuss quote. She added, “I’m one person; if I can give the group superintendents and their various directors the bandwidth to have those engagements, those are your force multipliers right there. Our production workforce relies on everybody to be engaged. We want people to not only be competent in what they do, but to care about what they do. You only learn the caring if you’re constantly interfacing with another human who cares just as much about you. “ She added, “Obviously we come here because it’s a job, but I think my role as 900 is to try and get people to really understand their greater connection to each other and the organization.”
“Everybody’s got a role in developing people. You’ve got to look at every interaction as a teachingslash-learning moment. That’s my biggest priority.”
JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 21
THE “RHODE” TO SUCCESS: A look at the Rhode Island Project Team
By ANNA TAYLOR • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST Over the coming months, Service to the Fleet will be featuring “The Rhode to Success,” an installment focusing on some of the key project team members for the USS Rhode Island’s (SSBN-740) 27-month availability. The USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740) is scheduled to arrive at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in December for her 27-month Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO), a major availability during which the submarine will be refueled and upgraded before returning to support the country’s nuclear triad. John Akin, a Mechanical Zone Manager in the Operations Department (Code 300), is one of 10 zone managers on the project and will play in integral role during the ERO. “He will be overseeing all of the work that happens in the forward compartment of the submarine,” said Frank Williams, Operations Department Non-Nuclear Assistant Project Superintendent. “He will be maintaining the schedule and coordinating across multiple 22 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
departments for all those folks to come in and get the work done.” Akin began his post-military shipyard career three years ago in the Shipbuilding Support Office (Code 284) as an Engineering Technician. He is no stranger to Ohio-class warships. Over the course of his 26-year career, the retired Master Chief Petty Officer served on seven submarines, including the USS Tennessee (SSBN-734), for which he was Chief of the Boat (COB) during her ERO. “His background prior to coming in the shipyard fits very nicely with what we’re going to go do [on the Rhode Island],” said John Walker, Rhode Island Deputy Project Superintendent. “He was the COB on a ballistic missile submarine. He has a very indepth knowledge on how they work.”
(March 20, 2013) The Ohioclass ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740) returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay after three months at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Kimber)
As COB, Akin was the go-to guy for a combined crew of 250 personnel. “The COB is the sounding board for everybody. Everyone talks to you,” said Akin. “You get to hear everything, and then make suggestions to deal with morale and welfare of the crew, chiefs, and officers. You touch base with everybody almost daily. You’re the guy who has the most experience on the submarine.” Because of the Trident ballistic missiles they carry, SSBN submarines are also called “Trident” submarines. “The nice thing about Tridents is they were all built by Electric Boat (EB), so everything is where it’s supposed to be,” said Akin. “Everything is in the same place. So I know where all the equipment is.” “The key to achieving our 27-month goal is to have Mr. Akin’s past knowledge
PHOTOS BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
Akin was born in Ft. Benning, GA and raised around the world. He began his career at NNSY in Code 284 as an Engineering Technician. He became the Project Lead for Industrial Shipbuilding and Repair Base Acquisition, Planning and Appraisal (Code 284.2).
and experience helping us out as a team,” said Walker. “We’re going to be leaning on him to help the other guys who haven’t had such a broad focus in their work.” While the refueling of Rhode Island is considered the most critical part of the project, there is a significant amount of other work. EROs are complex, and the Rhode Island project has a list of strategic initiatives that are key to undocking the ship on time, all of which help the team maintain a wide focus to ensure each component is executed at the right stage. “[The refueling] is a big portion of it, but that’s not really why it takes 27 months,” said Akin. “It’s all-encompassing. While the nuclear work is going on, that’s when we’ve got to update the sonar suite or navigation package or fire control, all of that stuff.” “A great deal of the work that’s got to be done outside of refueling is going to be Akin’s [responsibility],” said Williams. The Rhode Island’s road to success will be paved with hard-working people like Akin. “That’s what we do as a shipyard. We overhaul the submarine and turn it back to the fleet,” said Walker. “That’s what we’re here for, that’s the most important thing we do, and we need to grab hold of the best and brightest and most talented folks we can get to execute that mission. We were lucky enough to find Mr. Akin.”
New Caisson for Dry Dock 1 By ANNA TAYLOR • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Clockwise from left: Drydock 1 Plaque (Courtesy of United States Navy), Postcard circa 1905 (Courtesy of Marcus W. Robbins), Docking USS DELAWARE (Courtesy of Marcus W. Robbins), Unidentified Submarine (Historic Norfolk Navy Yard Glass Plate Collection, January 19,1926) Dry Dock 1 Looking West (Courtesy of Sergeant Memorial Room)
In June of 1833, before Dry Dock 1 was formally completed, it was christened by 74gun Ship of the Line, USS Delaware, which became the first vessel to ever dry dock in the Western Hemisphere. A short 28 years later in the same granite dock, the burnt hull of ex-USS Merrimack started her journey of restoration, eventually becoming CSS Virginia, the first steam-powered ironclad warship built by the Confederate States Navy. Begun in 1827 and finished in 1834, Dry Dock 1 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) is still in use today. In 1972, Dry Dock 1 was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The dry dock has been modified over the years to fit the Navy’ s changing needs but most of its original features are still intact, and historic photos from NNSY’s archives tell a story of the great craftsmanship, patriotism, and pride still plentiful at today’s yard. “It’s awesome to say we still use something 24 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • JUNE 2015
built in 1833,” said Chris Adams, Code 341 Dock Master. “What capabilities did they have [in 1833] to dig a giant hole in the ground and then line it with granite? A lot of engineering thought went into it, and they didn’t have the technology we have today to do major construction like that.” In early 2014, Colonnas Shipyard began a year-long project to build a new caisson for the dry dock. The old caisson was built in 1924 with riveted construction and a wooden seat (the watertight sealing mechanism). “The need for the new caisson came from a question about the structural integrity of the old caisson,” said Ryan Nutt, Production Facility and Equipment Management Division (Code 980) Dry Dock Engineering Technician. “One of the design elements of this new caisson is the ability to inspect our ballast tanks. With the new design we can perform maintenance in the tanks while the caisson is seated. We can isolate the ballast
tanks for the safety of personnel and perform our controlled inspections.” “That’s a big deal operationally as far as what Shop 99DD can do and what they can get done while something is in the dry dock,” said Lt. Tim Emge, Code 340 Docking Officer. “Once it’s certified, Dry Dock 1 can handle any Navy vessel that fits within its capacity.” In order to certify the dry dock is safe for naval assets, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) will send a team of representatives to inspect the caisson once all of the local testing is completed. The dry dock’s certification will be renewed every three years. “My ambition, ever since I came through the dry dock program as an apprentice, is to still be here in 2033 for the 200-year anniversary of the dry dock,” said Nutt. By Dry Dock 1’s standards, operating for another 18 years will be smooth sailing. To read more about the history of NNSY and Dry Dock 1, visit the shipyard history blog at nnsyhistorymatters.blogspot.com.
FEATURED Recruiter HOWARD WILLIAMS JR. • RIGGER, CODE 700 Howard Williams Jr. has worked as a rigger at NNSY for almost three years. He attended Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, NC) where he majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Interview by Kristi Britt • Public Affairs Specialist. Tell us about yourself. I was born in Allentown, PA but I've lived in North Carolina since high school. I am married to Leonda going on three years. I have two beautiful children: Kylen, who is 7 years old, and Brilee, who is now 18 months. Together we work as a unit and there is no better blessing that God could have given me. Tell us a little bit about your job. I am a rigger by trade. I work on carriers, submarines, and special projects where I plan, train, brief and detail jobs in order to get items on, off, or through the boat. We use a mechanical advantage as these items vary in weight and in difficulty. If anything is to move around the shipyard I am part of a vital team that ensures it gets to and from its destination safely. My job also involves being a leader, mentoring, as well as some recruiting.
Above: the old caisson circa 1924 on the left and new caisson on the right. Below: the new caisson arrives from Colonnas.
How did you get involved in recruiting? I was chosen by upper management to be a representative for Code 700. I set up and attended the career fairs at Tidewater Community College and the College of the Albemarle. I enjoy recruiting for NNSY because I remember what it was like trying to get into the shipyard. I use that motivation to encourage others to take the necessary steps to jumpstart their career. People deserve to have the right information in order for them to be successful. If we get it right then we give them the opportunity for success and we receive quality personnel. What advice do you have for those interested in recruiting? I would definitely make sure they understand that it's not an easy job. It requires relaying the information repeatedly and with patience. It requires being able to multitask and understand the lessons learned to make the efforts better each time. What do you like to do after hours? I enjoy going to church, spending time with my wife and kids, coaching sports, and racing motorcycles. All of these different avenues are therapeutic stress relievers. Some of the best feelings in the world come from the ones you love and being grateful for what God has given you.
PHOTOS BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
NNSY Completes Availability for USS Harry S. Truman By Michael Brayshaw • Lead Public Affairs Specialist
USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) May 22 following the successful completion of its Carrier Incremental Availability. Major tasks completed on Truman included main engine and attached lube oil pump repairs; major inspections on the catapult accumulators and reboilers; and modernization of the propulsion plant and the ship's telephone system. NNSY work was comprised of approximately 135,000 mandays, with support also provided by Ship’s Force, Multi-Ship/Multi-Option (MSMO) contractor, Newport News Shipbuilding and Alteration Installation Teams (AITs). Over the last several months, twenty percent of the U.S. Navy’s carrier force has been under the care of NNSY, with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) now in the final stages of its Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability. While overlapping carrier availabilities are nothing new to the shipyard, Truman marked the first Carrier Incremental Availability at NNSY; shorter carrier availabilities are usually performed at Naval Station Norfolk. “There were many advantages to performing the availability here at Norfolk Naval Shipyard,” said Project Superintendent Nick Gianacakos. “The Truman project team always had the mentality to support the mechanic on the deckplate. NNSY is logistically better
prepared to perform and support maintenance utilizing Job Readiness Cells, shop resources and readily available engineering support. NNSY and Ship’s Force embraced the team concept and executed this shortened availability above expectations.” Project team leadership also credited strong communication and cooperation with Ship’s Force. Working together, project team and ship leaders provided beneficial resources such as mentor coaching, additional advanced planning team training, and facility enhancement. To support continual production on this concentrated availability, Job Readiness Cells (JRCs) were placed for the Truman project team in both the carrier hangar bay and on the pier. JRCs provide mechanics tooling and consumables in an area conveniently co-located next to a project, supporting nonstop execution of work. As part of the One Shipyard concept, project team leaders traveled to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to examine JRCs in execution on a carrier availability. “The JRC was utilized by the mechanics and zone managers and real-time feedback contributed to an ongoing improvement throughout the availability,” said Gianacakos. JRCs on the pier will remain in place for the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) project team performing NNSY’s next carrier availability. JUNE 2015 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 27