DON'T MISS: DAN STANLEY - NNSY ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
SERVICE TO THE FLEET Norfolk Naval Shipyard
We Are America's Shipyard
BLDG. 30 RENOVATION
Building renovations set new standard for excellence and modernization
SHIPYARD SPOTLIGHT: SHAWN POWELL
March 2019
Table of Contents
IN THIS ISSUE Features: 4 FROM THE COMMANDER Inspiration in America's Shipyard
5 iNFUSION AT NNSY 7 CODE 990 Changing the culture one action at a time
10 USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH NNSY Welcomes Bush for Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability
12 ON THE COVER
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Bldg. 30 Renovation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
14 MINESWEEPER CONDENSER NNSY makes history by building condenser in record time
16 EYE ON INNOVATOIN NNSY T&I COP and Code 109 ensure America's Shipyard is Cyber-Secure
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18 SHIPYARD SPOTLIGHT Shawn Powell, Shop 51N Marine Electrician Shop Work Leader
19 COMMITTED TO OUR CORE C.O.R.E. lunch and learns break communication barriers
22 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Dan Stanley named NSPE Engineer of the Year 2 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
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VOLUME 82 • NUMBER 3 SHIPYARD COMMANDER Capt. Kai Torkelson
Service to the Fleet
EXECUTIVE OFFICER Capt. Daniel Rossler COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM (AW/SW) Michael Reese EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (CODE 1100) Lisa Downey PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER Terri Davis SERVICE TO THE FLEET EDITOR Kristi Britt PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF Michael Brayshaw, April Brown, Floyd Logan, Troy Miller, 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 DoD, 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.
REMINDER: GAMBLING PROHIBITED ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY! The beginning of spring marks the beginning of March Madness. Remember - federal ethics rules prohibit gambling on government property or while on duty. Also remember, that expending time monitoring and/or managing a gambling pool could constitute a misuse of government time and resources.
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The confidence of the public in its government is influenced not only by the manner in which employees serve the public, but also in the way they conduct themselves in the eye of the public. All service members should maintain a high standard of honesty, integrity, impartiality, and conduct in the proper performance of the government business. DoD employees should refrain from any activities that would demean the public confidence in the department. Please direct all questions or comments to your ethics counselors, Code 107 at 396-8625. MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 3
From the Commander, Capt. Kai O. Torkelson:
Inspiration in America's Shipyard
March is here and spring is right around the corner! Along with warmer weather, March brings Women’s History Month recognizing the many women who have made great and lasting contributions to our nation and Navy. Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) has employed women dating back more than a century, with World War I introducing about 800 "Yeomanettes" into the workforce to perform shipyard administrative jobs, working all shifts and weekends to support the war effort. After being discharged in 1919, some began shipyard civilian careers that continued for more than 30 years. I’m proud that we have great examples of trailblazing women here today in our shipyard. These range from NNSY’s previous Operations Officer and now Business and Strategic Planning Officer, Captain Dianna Wolfson, who will become the first woman Commanding Officer in public shipyard history when she reports to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility later this year, to this month’s spotlight, Shop 51N Shawn Powell, who 4 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
lives our C.O.R.E. values daily and enables nonstop execution of work for deckplate mechanics. Those are but two examples, out of the countless others here in America’s Shipyard! As we continue to thoroughly implement C.O.R.E. within the shipyard this year, it is important we align on the inspiration behind it. Our Command Philosophy starts with people and starts with why. I will tell you why I start with WHY. The WHY is the foundation that inspires us to develop to our full potential. The WHY is the basis that encourages all of us to become vital contributors to high performing teams. The WHY is the cornerstone of what drives us in everything we do to make the fleet ready. I was rereading a favorite book of mine, “Start With Why,” which frames the WHY in a revealing story about the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 between the English and the French. The English were fatigued, outnumbered, and outarmored, but they held one crucial advantage—the longbow, a weapon of terrific range and power which turned the tide of the battle. What’s interesting about the longbow is it’s useless without momentum, which comes from first pulling the arrow back going in a direction 180 degrees to its intended path. That’s its WHY, from where it gets its inspiration and drive to go forward. The reason I mention that is I feel to effectively go forward with C.O.R.E., we must begin by knowing where we and our country have been, taking a look backward, and then we have momentum and accuracy going forward. C.O.R.E. was created by our own people, who in many instances when developing these values were working to eliminate the aggressive and defensive behaviors they had encountered at the shipyard throughout their careers. Not only does C.O.R.E. support our people on the individual level, it also enables high velocity learning and will help fuel the Fleet. Recognizing these values as essential to our organizational success moving forward, our senior leaders have spent much time in the past year examining problematic behaviors within the shipyard and identifying how C.O.R.E. can address them. Shipyard leadership understands to fully develop our employees, and to spur innovations, we need
a constructive culture where employees can rightly feel special and valuable. Employees who feel that way also feel empowered to support the Fleet with their ideas and their energy. An engaged employee is one who feels valued for their well-being, knowledge, experience, and contribution. Investing in the development of our people is one of the best ways to engage our workforce and our C.O.R.E. organizational values provide the motivation and tools to accelerate and optimize our development. On February 21, we welcomed USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) for its extensive Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). When it comes to caring for others and completing a mission, it’s harder to think of a more powerful example than when a young LTJG George Bush, the future 41st President, was flying a bombing mission in the South Pacific on September 2, 1944. When the plane was hit by antiaircraft fire, Bush took pains to see his two crewmembers to safety all the while achieving his objective of bombing a radio tower. While his two crewmembers perished, Bush did all he could to save them and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valiant service and mission. He later said, "We were trained to complete our runs no matter what the obstacle." The Bush project team has brought that same spirit of care and perseverance as they begin this long and challenging availability. We all know there will be hard work, many challenges and great obstacles. The ultimate question will be, how did we work as a team to grow and develop each other, and to mitigate those challenges? Project team members have not only adopted Bush’s quote of “this is my mission and I will complete it” as their motto, they even have it on their lanyards to remind themselves daily. I look forward to seeing this highperforming team provide safety and superior quality throughout the DPIA culminating in a reliable delivery back to the fleet. Norfolk Naval Shipyard, committed to our C.O.R.E.!
Capt. Kai Torkelson Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s 108th Commander
NNSY Uses iNFUSION to align with NAVSEA Mission
LEFT TO RIGHT: MIKE TERRELL AND BILL WELCH
STORY AND PHOTOS BY KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) has taken the plunge into an innovative suite of online communication, collaboration, social media tools. Managed by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), the suite is for employees across Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) enterprise, providing a united system to promote efficient workflow, learning, and knowledge sharing. The suite, named iNFUSION, is a collection of tools including Fusion (similar to Facebook), Jira (project management and tracking system), Chat (similar to Facebook messenger), Confluence or Wiki pages (similar to SharePoint), and more used across the Navy. “It’s an easy-to-use system that has brought us together as community across the enterprise ready to share knowledge,” said Code 100PI Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Mike Terrell and NNSY global administrator. Global administrators have control of the major settings in Jira. “We are able to build projects, create forms, and track everyone’s progress in the work they do within the system. We are also able to converse and establish those links that in the past were hard to create due to being at separate locations within the enterprise. Everything can be entered instantly into the system by the users and all stakeholders can follow the progress of the projects and provide their input as needed.” Code 100PI Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Administrator Bill Welch added, “this system helps us align under the One Shipyard Concept in a way
that hasn’t been done before.” At this time, NNSY has seven project administrators trained from a variety of areas including the Code 200I Technology and Innovation Lab (NNSY T&I Lab), Code 900P Rapid Prototype Center (RPC), Code 100PI and the Code 2320 Nuclear Innovation Group. Terrell and his team of project administrators have trained in the iNFUSION suite and have worked to build the Norfolk Innovation Project to capture efforts pursued by the NNSY workforce. Jira is being used to collect and share a portfolio of innovation efforts across the entire NAVSEA corporation. The team is currently focused on using these tools to support corporate innovation efforts; however, in the future there are opportunities to expand to other knowledge sharing communities. Jira, as noted on the iNFUSION website, is an issue management platform that can be used to track workflow, both simple and complex, and provide access to information to all stakeholders. “Jira provides more visibility than we’ve ever had before on what work is being done,” said Terrell. “We are able to break down each project into categories, including timelines, personnel assigned, and individual changes and notes made throughout the project’s lifespan. In addition, we can add attachments such as photographs or drawings. We are able to house the framework of what we do and involve everyone who has a part in it. And it also shares those projects with the other shipyards so we can all align in what everyone’s doing. If we’ve worked to make an innovative tool that can be used at the other
shipyards, we’re able to share everything with them through the system with ease.” Welch is a huge advocate for the various systems in the suite. “It’s provided us a way to connect in a modern era. Just like social media, we’re able to chat together throughout the enterprise and build off of each other’s knowledge and experiences. We have Jira, which is the project management and tracking portion of the suite. We also have the Fusion and Chat which allow us to share information, have private and group conversations, to improve open dialogue with others throughout NAVSEA. We also have the Wiki pages, or Confluence, which is similar to SharePoint in that it allows teams to collaborate, create and share files such as ideas, minutes, mockups, and more with one another. It’s a system that has everything we need to come together to learn and collaborate as one unit and build our Navy into something greater than ever before.” The iNFUSION suite is available to all NMCI users with CAC access. Those with a desire to share, collaborate and learn from users performing similar functions at other Naval activities are encouraged to request an account at https://fusion.navsea.navy.mil/.
MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 5
From the Deckplate: Command Master Chief Michael Reese
Spring is on the way at America's Shipyard
March is here, which means spring is on the way! A time of year when nature comes to life and brightens up our daily surroundings. What we have become used to seeing over the last couple of months is starting to change. Speaking of things changing, did you see that ship that pulled in here last month? Let me pause a moment to say “welcome aboard” to the crew of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Understand that we will make sure your visit here to NNSY is a productive and memorable one. March is a time when we stop and honor the women who positively impacted not only the U.S. Navy, but our country
6 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
as a whole. Whether it’s Loretta Perfectus Walsh, the first woman to enlist in the US Navy on March 17, 1917, or Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s own Captain Dianna Wolfson, who will be the first woman to become a shipyard commander when she takes command of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility later this year, women continue to reach new milestones to make our great nation even better. Another was Dr. Mary Walker. After earning her medical degree at Syracuse Medical College in New York, she volunteered with the Union Army at the outbreak of the American Civil War and served as a surgeon at a hospital in Washington D.C. At that time, women physicians were considered unfit for the Union Army Examining Board. This did not keep her from upholding the Hippocratic Oath. She crossed enemy lines to treat wounded civilians. Confederate soldiers arrested her for being a Union spy and she was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Richmond, Va. Because she had “rendered valuable service to the government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways,” Dr. Walker became the first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. As for me, I have three special women in my life: my mother, Shirley Reese; motherin-law, Shirley Passink and my wife Trina Reese! I would like to say happy birthday to my mom and my wife who are celebrating this month! I would also like to say Thank You to all three for their love and support that have given me during my Naval career, you three are the BEST! There are truly more stories I could share but I will save those for a later date and time. Speaking of stories, did you know that March 2nd, is Dr. Seuss’s birthday? This day is set aside by the National Education Association to encourage and bring awareness to parents and children alike to grab a book of interest and read. Not only
does reading with your child help expand yours and your child’s vocabulary, but it’s a great time to have a little bonding time with each other. Don’t have children? Then volunteer to read at an elementary school, a local library, or to your neighbor’s children. It will be time worth spent. This month’s CMC Shout Out goes out to our very own Security Precinct. Thank you for keeping us safe while we accomplish the mission. I understand the hours, the days, the nights, the weekends and holidays you are here to ensure the safety of everyone who works here or assigned to a vessel here and want to say to you Thank You for a Job Well Done! Bravo Zulu! I reflect again on my time in the Navy and find it amazing all the things I have had the opportunity to see and participate in. Some of my greatest memories will definitely come from my time here as the CMC of America’s Shipyard! I still have a couple of months left in the job before the ceremony but I wanted to say thank you to everyone for what you do on a daily basis. As always, it is an honor to be in the Navy and a great time to be a part of America’s Shipyard!
Michael Reese Command Master Chief
Changing the Culture One Action at a Time STORY AND PHOTOS BY TROY MILLER • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST Shop 99 Mechanic John Fussel tightens a flange on a new direct drive motor; Shop 99 Electrician Apprentice Danielle Hawkins prepares line to bundle materials together; Shop 99 Electrician James Fleenor repairs a cable used on pressure washers. The New England Patriots tied the Pittsburgh Steelers with the most championship wins when the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII last month. Although the Steelers and Patriots both have six Super Bowl championships, they are still one shy of NNSY Temporary Services’ (Code 990) record of safety flags earned last year. “Within the last 12 months, Code 990 won the safety flag seven times,” said Code 990 Group Superintendent James Holt. “When you take safety as seriously as we do, it means we have to look at the way we do things. Just because something was always done a certain way doesn’t mean there isn’t a better or safer way to do it.” With the support of Code 990’s upper management, safety advocate Mary Williams set out to find what the group could be doing better in safety two years ago. When given this task she immediately went to her biggest and best resource, Code 990’s personnel who worked on the waterfront. “Along with the upper management I have an open-door policy,” said Williams. “My open door isn’t just to my office. I step away from my desk and bring my open door to the workers on the waterfront.” During one of Williams’ conversations with waterfront workers, she found out that the harnesses used by the scaffolders were uncomfortable and cumbersome which made their work challenging. With this knowledge, Williams, Shop 89 (Shipwrights, Fabric Workers, and Scaffolding) Waterfront Operations Manager Jason Smith, and other supervisors began discussing ways to resolve
this issue. They learned that another shipyard had designed a harness for the same reasons. Code 990 purchased enough harnesses for each employee to be issued one, plus an extra when the employees turn in their current harness for inspection. “Another thing we learned from our people were that there were better and safer gloves for cutting material out on the market,” said Smith. “We looked into it and purchased the gloves that would keep our workers safer while carrying out their duties and responsibilities.” Code 990 members are the first to board a carrier and submarine when they come to the shipyard, and the last to depart when the carrier and submarine head back to the active fleet. They are responsible for temporary services that the carrier and submarines receive like hooking up the hoses for potable water and connecting cables for electrical power. They are also responsible for maintaining life rafts, emergency lighting and other vital equipment. Code 990 strives to meet the goal of “no one gets hurt today." Code 990 is comprised of ten different trades which all bring their own unique safety challenges. To best address safety issues, Williams sits down face to face with any employee who gets injured on the job and listens to them on what happened and what could have prevented the injury. “We explain to them how vital it is for them to tell their story on what happened,’ said Williams. “These workers are part of my family, so when they tell me what happened, I take it to heart and do what I can to ensure it doesn’t happen again to them or anyone on
the waterfront.” One method Williams uses to get the word out is holding a voluntary monthly safety meeting where employees can discuss injuries and share lessons learned. When she first started to hold the meetings two years ago, seven workers attended. “Once word got out and our actions showed the workforce that we are for real, our monthly meetings have grown to 37 personnel,” said Williams. “With these actions we’ve been taking, our injuries have decreased significantly. From the first quarter of fiscal year 18 to the first quarter of fiscal year 19, our injuries have dropped 60 percent.” Holt said that the decrease of injuries has meant less man hours lost. This factor is a huge contributor to this high performing team. With results like this, it’s become a good kind of contagiousness within his code and has started a friendly competition on the waterfront. “Winning the safety flag has become a healthy competition between the superintendents,” said Holt. “After we win a safety flag, we celebrate with cake and ice cream and recognize those individuals that had taken that extra step or two to help us earn the safety flag.” Code 990 will continue its efforts to keep the doors open and show the workforce that leadership is listening by taking action. When asked if there was anything Holt wanted to say to the other superintendents about the safety flag for the upcoming year, he replied, “Game on!”
MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 7
Shipyard Insider: BUZZ & BYTES
» POSITIVE YARDAGE
Congratulations NNSY MWR! Who comes in first? Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), which has the highest customer service score in the entire United States Navy, ranking 1st out of 72 programs. Congratulations to NNSY’s MWR! Photo by Shayne Hensley, NNSY Photographer.
Congratulations 1LSHV Graduates! Norfolk Naval Shipyard honored its latest round of First Level Supervisor High Velocity (1LSHV) Training graduates Jan. 16. 1LSHV training topics cover human resource, business and leadership skills. This training allows participants to directly apply classroom learning in the shipyard environment over a period of several weeks, and collaborate on ways work processes can be improved. Photo by Shelby West, NNSY Photographer. Congratulations 3LM Graduates!
Norfolk Naval Shipyard honored its latest round of Third Level Management (3LM) High Velocity Symposium graduates Jan. 14. The symposium begins with an initial 32hour course, followed by participants being assigned a coach who reinforces training concepts and provides guidance on achieving personal goals. This course was developed with inputs from third level managers at all four public shipyards, focusing on personal mastery, communication, team development, and leading the organization. Photo by Shelby West, NNSY Photographer.
Congratulations Shop 56!
DIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT: WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
That’s Shop 56 closing out 2018 in safety style with winning both the November AND December Safety Flags! Shipyard Commander Captain Kai Torkelson presented this award Jan. 24. The shop had no lost workdays or first-aid injuries for the two months thanks to improved equipment including safer shop machinery, ensuring shop cleanliness and strong partnerships with the shipyard safety team. Congratulations to NNSY’s Pipefitters! Photo by Shayne Hensley, NNSY Photographer.
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NOBODY GETS HURT TODAY! Safety starts with YOU. YOU are NNSY's most vital asset. NCMA Scholarship Opportunity The Norfolk Naval Shipyard Chapter of the Naval Civilian Managers Association has opened up its scholarship opportunity for 2019. Applications are available now on the NNSY NCMA WebCentral page: https://webcentral.nnsy.navy.mil/sites/Associations/NCMA/ default.aspx. Scholarships must be completed and returned to John Satcher no later than April 19. For more information, please contact Scholarship Committee Chair John Satcher at 757-284-8749.
SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING. NAS Scholarship Opportunity The Norfolk Naval Shipyard Chapter of the National Association of Superintendents (NAS) is offering multiple $500 scholarships to outstanding dependent students of shipyard military and civilian employees. Applicants are evaluated based on their academic achievements, extracurricular, personal, and service activities, and a short personal narrative. All applicants must be sponsored by a member of the NAS. A list of members can be found in the outlook distribution list titled NNSY_Superintendents Assn. Sponsors will provide a copy of the current year application.
SERVICES ONLY weekends In accordance with the NNSY Overtime Management Policy, several weekends in 2019 will be designated as services only weekends in order to give our combined workforce (including our Ship's Force teammates) a chance to rest and revitalize. These weekends are "charge-your-battery" weekends: take time to be with your family and friends, and reflect on what we can do to take care of each other, improve communications within our teams and think about the work we are doing with a focus on safety. Thank you for everything you are doing every day. UPCOMING SERVICES ONLY WEEKENDS: March 9-10 • March 23-24 • April 6-7 • April 20-21 • May 11-12
FAMILY DAY IS COMING TO AMERICA'S SHIPYARD IN 2019
Family Day will return to America's Shipyard in fall 2019! Planning is currently underway and more information will soon be available for family sign-ups and building sign-ups for the event. We are currently looking for volunteers to assist the planning committee with the Family Day event. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please email John Satcher at howard.satcher@navy.mil, Danny Mangum at danny.mangum@navy. mil, and Kristi Britt at kristi.britt@navy.mil.
2019 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES In an effort to provide NNSY employees information and education on beneficial Human Resources topics, FLTHRO will host informal Lunch and Learn training sessions throughout the year. Bring your lunch, FLTHRO will provide the education! All NNSY employees are welcome and encouraged to attend these informal sessions. FLTHRO has seating for 33 employees, and attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis.
9 - 11 A.M. (TRAINING FOR MANAGERS) May 30, Aug. 15 • Writing a Position Description 11:20 A.M. - NOON LUNCH & LEARNS: May 15, July 25 • Resume Writing March 13 • Reasonable Accomodations April 18 • Equal Employment Opportunity June 11, Sept. 12 • Navigating USAJobs MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 9
PHOTOS BY SHAYNE HENSLEY • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER 10 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
NNSY WELCOMES USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH FOR DRYDOCKING PLANNING INCREMENTAL AVAILABILITY
BY MICHAEL BRAYSHAW LEAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Feb. 21 for a 28-month Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). Drydocking and maintaining a 103,000 ton, 1,092-foot long aircraft carrier is complex work. This DPIA marks the first time Bush has not been waterborne since 2006. Requiring an estimated 1.3 million mandays, it will be the most extensive maintenance period for Bush yet and one of the most complex CVN CNO availabilities in recent NNSY history. The shipyard workforce will be providing approximately 775,000 mandays, with Ship’s Force, Alteration Installation Teams and contractor work comprising the rest. Bush Project Superintendent Jeff Burchett worked to incorporate corporate lessons learned after visiting Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to see USS Nimitz (CVN 68) undergo similar work during its availability. “There are a lot of first time jobs all around given this is the first time Bush has sat on keel blocks since being built,” said Burchett. “With the size of this work package, it will take a total team effort by Norfolk Naval Shipyard.” Bush will fully tap into the 21st century toolkit with the goals to achieve first-time quality and ensure safety. Project team members will use advanced technology such as exoskeleton suits, additive manufacturing, laser scanners to create virtual rigging paths, and the development of training models using virtual reality. Burchett said the project team also engaged with NNSY engineering and the production shops to discuss ways to leverage innovations during the DPIA. With much of the project team
performing work on a drydocked carrier for the first time, Burchett said this is a prime opportunity to demonstrate the shipyard organizational values of Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence (C.O.R.E.) across all working levels throughout the availability. “We have new supervisors, new zone managers, new assistant project superintendents,” he said. “This is a great chance for teaching and mentoring people in new positions how to execute and perform to their top potential.” “As project superintendent, the safety and well-being of my team is the top priority—that goes for the shipyard, crew and contractors,” he added. “My relationship with the Captain is strong, being focused on the mission and implementing C.O.R.E. with the ship.” As the first carrier docking at NNSY in several years, Bush will be on blocks for the majority of its availability. Naval Facilities Engineering Command helped get the dry dock ready for NNSY, with recent dock flooding and salt water system upgrades to accommodate the ship. Following extensive planning during the past 18 months, and with an energized workforce leveraging state-of-the-art technology, Burchett is ready to get started. “Our project team is poised and ready to take on this mission,” he said. “There’s a quote from George H.W. Bush himself that we have taken on as the project team motto: ‘This is my mission and I will complete it.’”
MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 11
BLDG. 30 RENOVATIONS SET NEW STANDARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND MODERNIZATION
BY APRIL BROWN • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST PHOTOS BY TONY ANDERSON • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
If you were standing outside Bldg. 30 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), you would quickly realize it is one of the oldest buildings on the North End of the shipyard. Its journey began in the 19th century, and from there, it has quite a history. Over the past 130 years, Bldg. 30 has been a timber shed, and a dry storage for lumber and supplies that was used to build, refit, and retrofit wooden ships. It survived two fires, functioned as the shipyard’s sawmill, and was the home of public works surveyors, multiple supply department offices, and various members of the Engineering and Planning Department (Code 200). With serving many functions over time, the facility faced wear and tear from weather 12 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
Shipyard Commander Capt. Kai Torkelson, Code 200 Engineering Planning Manager Mike Zydron, and NNSY Public Works Officer Commander Ben Wainwright prepare to cut the ribbon for the Bldg. 30 Renovation Ceremony.
and age. It reached the point of sorely needing an upgrade in technology and more space for employees. “This building was chosen at the time because it was in the worst shape of the buildings on the North End,” said Allen Pace, Code 223 Branch Head and Facility Manager. “It is important for us to update our buildings and have the technology we need to meet the demands of our mission and country. It is just as important as taking care of our people. We would not be able to function without them so it makes sense we put them first, and give them what they need to improve their work environment and quality of life.” The structure and technology within
Bldg. 30 has gone through a near complete transition from its original state. The $26 million project features historic artifacts, photos and artwork while meeting the most current anti-terrorism force protection guidelines and historic preservation rules. “We put a lot of work into this building to bring it up to code while restoring the historic features. We removed seven layers of paint to bring out the original structural bricks, and uncovered cobblestone and paver stones from the 1800s. Those are placed in the southside of the building,” said Dan Bischof, Naval Facilities and Engineering Command Construction Manager. “When you walk through the building, you might feel like you are in a museum. You will find
TOP LEFT: Commander Wainwright speaks to the guests of the Bldg. 30 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony BOTTOM LEFT: Capt. Kai Torkelson speaks to the guests of the Bldg. 30 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
many things that represent the past, present, and future through pictures, wall murals, and the blend of innovation and technology.” When the engineers returned to their building in February, they were able to distinguish where they will work by the various images on the wall which pertain to their job, and reveals how far the shipyards have come in the past 130 years and where it is headed. “The engineers coming in here are going to really see a big difference in the building from what it used to be,” said Bischof. “They now have state of the art kitchens, upgraded bathrooms with showers, state of the art work spaces and engineering tables, just to name a few.”
The facility was also designed to centralize more engineers which will allow them to provide better services to the ships and submarines that are being repaired and overhauled at NNSY. “This building is setting the stage for facilities and it really folds into our C.O.R.E. philosophy: Care, Ownership, Respect, and Excellence,” said Shipyard Commander Captain Kai Torkelson. “If we recruit and bring new workers in and show them the state-of-the-art facilities that they are going to be working in, and let them know that this is the sign for our respect of the workforce, and for the work they do every day.” The renovation project of Bldg. 30 has also given the shipyard a chance to show the
engineers that once occupied the facility a new standard of care after being displaced for more than two years. “We are putting people first. That is what we are working on here in the shipyard,” said Mike Zydron, Code 200 Engineering Planning Manager. “We are developing our people from a command philosophy standpoint. We have to take care of our people, all of them. We don’t need fancy, but I believe we got it. We need clean, safe, and functional here in the shipyard to do our jobs. That is absolutely what this building is giving us, and the ability to continue to execute our mission with a diverse workforce and deliver continued support to the fleet worldwide.” Renovations and upgrades in older buildings at NNSY are proving to not only benefit the shipyard and fleet, they are setting the standard going forward to enhance the quality of life of employees, longevity of the building, and in some cases, setting the renovation and functionality bar at a new level. “Through dedication, hard work, and a team effort, this project has really set the bar going forward very high. I am very excited this dream is now a reality,” said Commander Ben Wainwright, NNSY Public Works Officer. “From here, we can only improve our efforts going forward. This project is a perfect example of teamwork and coordination, and the reason why NNSY is America’s Shipyard.” The NNSY and Public Works team have already begun the groundwork on the next major North End project, the renovation and upgrades of Bldg. 31, which is a facility in critical need of repair and is part of the 2040 NNSY Optimization Plan. It is the only building on the North End that has not been renovated in the last 30 years. MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 13
NNSY makes history by building a minesweeper condenser in record time BY APRIL BROWN • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST PHOTOS BY TONY ANDERSON • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER A few months ago, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) learned the air conditioning condenser of one of the Navy’s minesweepers, USS Gladiator (MCM-11) stopped working while at sea. When local repairs were unsuccessful, NNSY immediately sent a fly-away team which determined the condenser needed to be replaced. After discovering a condenser wasn’t readily available, a condenser was obtained from another minesweeper, USS Champion (MCM-4). This process allowed the Gladiator to get back to sea. In December 2018, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) tasked NNSY with building a new condenser for the ship. The Navy first looked at outside manufacturers for the part and quickly learned it would take about a year to get the condenser. Due to operational missions, the ship couldn’t remain in port for an extended period of time. Even though the shipyard hadn’t built anything like this in decades, its personnel were ready to do whatever was needed to build it and help the ship get back to sea. The first thing the condenser team learned was the Navy’s 14 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
minesweepers are a bit different from the rest of the fleet when it comes to the metal within the ship and its equipment. The metal used on these ships must be non-magnetic in order for them to perform their missions and keep the ship cool in warm seas. Before they could start building, the team members designed a production schedule and met daily to ensure they were staying on track and to address any challenges they came across along the way. “Over the years of working here, I have learned this shipyard can do just about anything,” said David New, Code 262 Engineering Branch Head. “This project was different than anything we have done because we didn’t have the vendor drawings we would normally have for a project. We all knew going in, we were starting nearly from scratch, and would need to reverse engineer some of the parts.” The team began the project by taking an old condenser apart to help determine how it is designed, how it functions, and to scan parts and create drawings for the condenser.
TOP: CAPT Dianna Wolfson addresses the minesweeper condenser building team. LEFT: Shop 56 personnel perform final checks on the minesweeper condenser before shipping.
“Building this type of condenser was new for us, and we did not have any paperwork or knowledge of how the manufacturer built this type of condenser,” said New. “This project brought a lot of unknowns and challenges when we discovered the original joint designs of the equipment didn’t meet our current design standards, and when the different types of material deformed when joined together.” Minesweeper condensers are made up of stainless-steel shells and copper nickel components. The challenge the team was facing was figuring out how it could mesh them together successfully without having deformation issues. “One of the biggest challenges we came across when we were building the condenser was the bowing of the pipe,” said Donald Edge, Code 960 Inside Shop Director. “The bowing of the flanges was even a bigger issue that was caused by the heat of the welding. When that happened, we had to send it back to the machine shop to get fixed before we could work on it again.” Throughout the entire project, the team learned through trial
and error, built a record of documents for future condenser projects, and conquered numerous challenges. Within two months, the team successfully built and tested the air conditioning condenser that allowed the ship to get back to the fleet and perform global operations. The NNSY condenser team looks back on the journey as more than just a project, it was something much bigger. “Given the opportunity to build something like this really puts our shipyard in a positive light. It also says a lot about our workforce as a whole and what we are capable of. We create, build timely and efficiently, within budget, and deliver first-time quality,” said Lee McElhiney, Shop 41 Inside Shop Supervisor. “We take a lot of pride in everything we do here each and every day because our work not only affects each one of us here in the shipyard, but our communities, our Navy, and ultimately our country.”
MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 15
EYE ON INNOVATION
NNOVATIO
PHOTO BY LUKE BEASLEY • FORMER NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Technology and Innovation Community of Practice (T&I COP) strives to break down barriers and integrate innovative technologies into the current business processes of the shipyard and the Department of Defense (DoD). In order to properly tackle the challenge, the team has partnered with the Information Technology Department (Code 109) to see what technologies, software, and more are feasible for shipyard use. Information Assurance/Cybersecurity (IA/CS) Subcommittee Lead Eric Goughenour works hard alongside his counterparts in the other subcommittees to aid and support in innovation implementation at America’s Shipyard. “It is my duty as a Code 109 representative to work with the teams supporting the Community of Practice to ensure they are aware and understand the cybersecurity implications and what is required to support cybersecurity in their operations,” said Goughenour. “For example, the teams seek out new technologies to bring onboard the shipyard and travel to attend trade shows to see what’s new and exciting that could play a role for our workforce. With Code 109 involved, we are able to see what software or technology fits into the DoD policies and procedures and begin the process to get them accredited and ready for use at NNSY. It is a lengthy process but having all parties collaborating at the very beginning means working together to address implementation requirements to mitigate barriers.” In addition, Code 109’s involvement means being able to find solutions to problems from across the shipyard and across the DoD, even temporary ones. “We help streamline the process for getting applications available and work together to navigate through the hurdles
16 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
Eric Goughenour is the Information Assurance/Cybersecurity (IA/CS) Subcommittee Lead in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Technology and Innovation Community of Practice.
THE NNSY T&I COP WORKS WITH CODE 109 TO ENSURE THE SHIPYARD IS CYBER-SECURE BY KRISTI BRITT • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
in getting new technologies onboard,” said Goughenour. “We can also pinpoint if there are applications to be used to support while we work to get the needed applications onboard.” Goughenour is the IT/CS subcommittee lead and focal point for Code 109 in the NNSY T&I COP, ready to face the challenges head on whatever they may be. “With the Community of Practice, they know they can contact me with any obstacles they may be facing and I can work with them to alleviate those problems and streamline the process,” said Goughenour. “I also ensure that we have as much attention as needed for all the innovative technologies and software coming into the shipyard. I try to be a representative at every demonstration we have for these new technologies and bring back what I’ve learned to the command. This way we know well in advance what’s going to be coming down the pipeline and begin those initial conversations for how we will get it accredited and ready for shipyard use.” Goughenour added, “We have to look at innovation and cybersecurity from all angles. Our staff has to understand the data we’re working with. We need to know what can be shared and what can’t be shared. Like in health and safety, there are procedures and policies in place for cybersecurity to protect our information. And it’s my job as a Code 109 representative to ensure everyone is aligned in that regard.” For more information regarding innovation and cybersecurity, contact the NNSY T&I Lab at 757-396-7180 or email the REAL Ideas program at NNSY_REALIdeas@navy. mil.
OSHA WORKER RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES As a worker, you have the right to: • • • • • • • •
• • • •
Request an OSHA inspection for workplace hazards, violations of OSHA standards, or violations of the OSH act Have an authorized employee representative accompany the OSHA compliance officer on the workplace inspection Confer informally and privately with OSHA compliance officer Be notified by your employer of any citations issued for alleged violations of standards at the workplace, and of your employer's requests for variances or for changes in the abatement period Contest the abatement time set in any citation issued to your employer by OSHA File a complaint with OSHA if you believe you have been dismissed, demoted or otherwise discriminated against for exercising your rights under OSHA Ask OSHA about any tests performed in your workplace, the results of inspections, and any decision to take action on a complaint Receive information from your employer about hazards and safety measures applicable to the workplace, OSHA standards relevant to your job and the record of accidents and illnesses in the workplace Ask that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health evaluate and provide information on the substances used in your workplace Refuse to work in an imminent danger situation, under certain conditions Submit written information or comment to OSHA on the issuance, revision or modification of an OSHA standard and to request a public hearing Observe the monitoring or measuring of toxic substances in the workplace if you are exposed, and to have access to any records of your exposure
As a worker, you have the responsibility to: • • • • •
Read the OSHA poster in your workplace (posted on official bulletin boards) Comply with all the OSHA standards, with all requirements of your state-approved plan (if any), and with your employer's safety and health rules Report any hazards immediately to your supervisor (or use the SDR/EHR program) Report to your supervisor any job-related illnesses or injuries Cooperate fully with the OSHA compliance officer who inspects your workplace
30 DAYS
File a complaint with OSHA within 30 days (by phone, online or by mail) if you have been retaliated against for using your right.
30
24 8
CODE 106 WILL REPORT TO OSHA
All work-related fatalities should be reported within eight hours, and all inpatient hospitalizations, amputations and losses of an eye within 24 hours.
DID YOU KNOW?
All of NNSY's safety metrics are available on WebCentral at webcentral.nnsy.navy.mil/ departments/C106/c106.2/sitepages/Shop%20 Project%20Metrics.aspx
NNSY TOP MISHAPS BY TYPE OCTOBER 2017 - SEPTEMBER 2018
CONTACT WITH: 24% OVEREXERTION: 16% FALL: 13% EXPOSURE TO NOISE OVER TIME: 10% RUBBED OR ABRADED BY: 8% STRUCK BY: 6%
Code 106 is NNSY’s local OSHA representative. You can call 396-7231 regarding your OSHA rights and responsibilities. You also have the right to contact the OSHA office directly by calling 1-800-321-OSHA or visiting www.OSHA.gov/html/RAmap.html
SHIPYARD
SHIPYARD SPOTLIGHT: SHAWN POWELL BY APRIL BROWN • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
If you asked Shawn Powell, Shop 51N Marine Electrician Shop Work Leader, years ago if she ever thought about having a career at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), she would have told you something completely different than today. Ten years ago, she was working at a bank, a single mom, and was on the hunt for stability for her and her son. Growing up, she knew about the shipyard and what it had to offer from her dad, who worked in Shop 64 as a Woodcrafter Shop supervisor. At that time, the shipyard wasn’t a career choice she was interested in. Over time, she started to 18 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
change her mind. She needed stability, a good salary, benefits, and training that would lead to a career. “I was working at jobs that didn’t pay enough for myself and my two-year-old son,” said Powell. “I needed to provide us with a better future, and that is when I started looking into the NNSY Apprentice Program. I applied and got picked up first time.” Her apprentice training began in 2011, and little did she know how becoming an apprentice was really going to change her life, both personally and professionally. “When I started as an apprentice, I knew
Shawn Powell graduated from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program in 2015.
absolutely nothing about my trade,” said Powell. “I learned everything from scratch. I have learned a lot in the past eight years, and every step along the way has helped me get me to where I am today.” One of the things that has helped Powell in her career also holds a special place in her heart, which is helping others through mentoring. She remembers vividly the lost feeling she felt as a young apprentice coming into the shipyard. Since then, she has made it a point to help others get rid of that feeling while teaching them some valuable tools that will help them throughout their shipyard
10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT Shawn Powell 1. She sings in her church choir. 2. One of her goals is to become an apprentice supervisor for her code. 3. She believes in following your dreams. 4. Her dream vacation is Abu Dhabi or the Maldives. 5. She knows how to play classical music on a piano. TOP: Shawn Powell, Wyoming Project Material Handler, preps working material kits for project supervisors. Photo by April Brown, Public Affairs Specialist. LEFT: Shawn and Calvin Powell celebrate their wedding with son Michiah. Photo courtesy of the Powell family. career. “I started seeing that feeling and expression in apprentices coming in behind me. In my second year as an apprentice, I started mentoring them,” said Powell. “Once I started, I knew I wanted to help and I realized that mentoring is something I really loved to do. Recently, I have focused on female apprentices. I have been teaching them how to handle certain situations, keys to doing their jobs efficiently, letting them know it is okay to speak up and stand their ground when they see, hear, or experience something that is wrong. Being able to mentor new apprentices is just one of the things that makes me happy here.” “One of my favorite things about the shipyard is the family environment,” added Powell. “I really like my job and I don’t dread coming into work like I did when I worked at the bank. I look forward to being here because everyone I work with are like family members. In my mind, I’m coming to work, but I am doing stuff with my family, and what we are doing is really important not only to me, but to our family, our shipyard, and our country.” She feels her job as a material handler is very important to NNSY's mission, her
coworkers, and helps those on the waterfront working on the boats. Powell’s job eliminates supervisors waiting for materials they need for their team to work on the boats. She is behind the scenes gathering, staging, and storing materials for all of the shifts on the USS Wyoming (SSBN-742) project. “Being a material handler is a busy job, but it is really important to those on the deckplates,” explains Powell. “This process cuts out a lot of extra time that they need to focus on the project. They come and pick up the designated materials when they need it, take it back to the boat, and production flows the way it should.” Balancing mentoring, being a material handler, and spending time with her work family supports her number one priority, being with her son and new husband who she met during apprentice training. “Family is very important to me,” said Powell. “Outside of work, I spend a lot of time with my family. Both my husband and I have huge families. We are that family that has dinner together at grandma’s house every Sunday. We also get together for everyone’s birthday and celebrate with cake and ice cream.” While family time is at the top of her
6. She loves all types of music. 7. Seafood and Soul food are her favorite things to eat. 8. She loves spending time at the beach. 9. She learned how to read at age 4 and skipped kindergarten. 10. Family means everything to her.
list, so is pursuing her education. She is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in accounting. She really likes her job as a material handler, but feels her forte is working in the business side of things of the shipyard. “My ultimate goal is to work in a business, budgeting, or accounting office within the shipyard,” said Powell. “My other goal is to retire from the shipyard because after going through the apprentice program and having a career here, I really don’t think I could go and be happy anywhere else. This place changed my life.”
MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 19
Supervisory Mechanical Engineer Dan Stanley with members of his Code 265 team. From left to right: D.J. Volstad, Kimberlea Armitage, Stanley, Trevor Davis and Ashley Hill.
NNSY'S FEDERAL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR FLUSH WITH FIXES FOR THE FLEET BY MICHAEL BRAYSHAW • LEAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST PHOTOS BY SHELBY WEST • NNSY PHOTOGRAPHER
When Dan Stanley was 10 years old, his parents’ coffee maker stopped working. After trying to repair it, he plugged it back in . . . only for it to catch on fire. Far removed from those humble beginnings, this Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Supervisory Mechanical Engineer now solves some of the most complex problems for the U.S. Navy Fleet, and was recognized as a Federal Engineer of the Year by the National Society of Professional Engineers at a Feb. 22 ceremony in Washington D.C. “It was a combination of humbling and exciting at the same time, to be recognized at that level,” he said. “Knowing that my work at NNSY was significant enough to warrant this type of recognition was very satisfying.” A key contributor to Stanley earning 20 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
this award was his work last year leading the design, implementation and execution of a unique cleanliness flush for a critical shipboard air system. Approached by the project leadership, Stanley and his engineering team were challenged with coming up with a solution to the ongoing cleanliness issue threatening the project’s end game. “There was a window of opportunity in the schedule to do something and the status quo repair methods were not effective. We needed to think out of the box for a solution to the problem,” he said. So this Code 265 Submarine Mechanical/Piping Branch Head got to work researching and brainstorming. Pingpong balls to agitate the pipe internals were considered, but those ran the risk of getting stuck in the complex runs of piping. Using
an abrasive grit threatened to leave sediment within the ship’s system, ultimately risking further damage to shipboard components. Chemical cleaning products were evaluated and determined to be either ineffective of removing the corrosion or deemed detrimental to the ship’s system. Fortunately, Stanley is the type of engineer who thrives on finding creative solutions under constraints. “Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies for a reason,” he said. “The goal of an engineer is to solve problems. At the shipyard, a lot of times there’s not a clear answer because X, Y and Z items have to be taken into consideration—it could be a matter of schedule, material or something else.” Dan’s “eureka moment” came when he decided to pursue an ice flush. Using water as the flushing medium, ice would be
LEFT: Supervisory Mechanical Engineer Dan Stanley tests the fit of two cold sprayed mockup pieces. RIGHT: Supervisory Mechanical Engineer Dan Stanley examines components, including a valve actuator NNSY employees recently cold sprayed at Penn State Applied Research Laboratory.
introduced to act as an abrasive that could scour the piping interior to remove corrosion that was being introduced into the system’s air stream. Using ice eliminated the concern of leaving material in the ship’s system after the flush was completed. Using water and ice to clean a pipe may sound simple in theory; less so when you consider Stanley had to find a way to facilitate this concept to clean a complex piping system with multiple turns and diametrical changes over a hundred feet of length. “It was a very complex situation, trying to engineer through a process on the fly that had never been done before.” The ice flush process required approximately 2,000 lbs. of ice to execute approximately 40 shots of what Stanley described as having the effect of a “shotgun
blast” within the ship’s piping. Following the flushing process, the system was restored and the shipyard was able to complete all required operational testing. “An effective leader within the Engineering and Planning Department must have the ability to accurately decipher technical problems and produce complete, accurate, and detailed resolutions that are understandable to individuals with various levels of technical knowledge,” said Code 260 Mechanical/Piping Division Head Steve Gogniat. “Mr. Stanley has demonstrated this ability for systems under his cognizance and is recognized as a leader at driving technically sound decisions on complex issues.” Reflecting on what he likes about his job, Stanley said, “I enjoy the fact that there is an element of unpredictability to each of my
days due to Code 265 supporting multiple submarine availabilities here at NNSY, Naval Station Norfolk, [Nuclear Power Training Unit] Charleston and [Trident Refit Facility] Kings Bay. I also enjoy the fact that I am usually involved in the resolution of complex engineering problems including troubleshooting operations and first time repairs, especially considering the unique position the current U.S. Navy Fleet is in.” Stanley added, “My mom likes to say I’ve come a long way from that coffeepot.”
MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 21
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Armondo Ward, Gregory Calavito, Kylon Daughty, Donald Wood, Chawndra Taylor, Haley Marshal, Kimberly Carter, Jazmin Coleman, Barry Hilliard, Cindy McHugh, Ronald Jones, Selenna Stancil, James Gilmore, and Delonte Watts work to clean up America's Shipyard one step at a time. NOT PICTURED: Gary Hoopingarner.
Production excess labor employees are bringing sustainment one step closer BY APRIL BROWN • PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHERRI BAILEY Sherri Bailey, Code 900F.3 Facilities and Logistics Manager, was assigned the task in 2018 to begin sorting, situating, setting in order, cleaning, standardizing and sustaining (5S) the shipyard property. The shipyard inside and outside of the Controlled Industrial Area (CIA) is divided into 30 zones with a superintendent assigned to each. Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Code 900 Production Resource Department developed a work team of production excess labor employees, and with the cooperation and progress by Bailey and her team, the shipyard is getting cleaner every day. Employees are temporarily assigned to this team and go back to their shops when needed. Over the past five months, Code 900 Production Shops have provided supervision and mechanics to help with excess work around the shipyard. “In order to support the cleanliness of the shipyard, superintendents send me employees that are in standby waiting for a boat to come in, waiting the background check or training, there are a variety of reasons why they come,” said Bailey “Having the help really makes a difference in what we need to do to clean up the shipyard.” The current team is made up of 14 employees from Code 900, and they are doing everything they can to clean up and beautify the shipyard. Their pride in the shipyard has lead them to go above and 22 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • MARCH 2019
beyond what is on their task for the day. “I’m really proud of this team. They take a lot pride in their work, even though it is temporary. They are really motivated and their initiative is helping make the shipyard a better place,” said Bailey. “While cleaning up the 30 zone areas, they go the extra mile and do something that wasn’t on the list. One of the things they did was while removing some weeds they also removed some old dirt from the concrete area and filled in holes in the yards of some of the quarters houses. They are always thinking of safety of the workforce and ways to help improve the shipyard.” The team also analyzes zones to see what needs to be removed, repaired, and cut. They mow grass, rake leaves, prune trees, remove scrap metal, trash, and weeds, and work with Code 200 Engineering Department to identifying material to see if it should be scrapped or properly stored somewhere else in the shipyard. In the past seven months, the team has partnered with Public Works Department Portsmouth (PWD) and has removed more than 600,000 pounds of metal from the shipyard. This task of implementing the 5S structured program across the cleanliness zones will require every employee to be a part of this quality control tool. “We are an industrial area and it is important for all of us to keep our shipyard clean,” said Bailey. “Due to the size of the shipyard, we needed to divide the shipyard
into zones. This made it easier to maintain and assign cleaning duties.” Not all of the zones in the shipyard are the same and they have different needs. The shipyard clean team ensures each zone is cleaned up and is in a sustainable status and meets the sustainability requirements before it is turned over to the cognizant superintendent. “Our goal is to go back and check all of the zones and be in sustainment by April 2019,” said Bailey. “Once we turn it over, the superintendents will need to make sure their specific zone is maintained and kept in sustainment. I understand that might be difficult while working in a very busy operational and industrial environment, but we need to keep our shipyard clean for many reasons.” Baily explains the shipyard would be easier to maintain cleanliness if there was a designated permanent group that could maintain and sustain the zones while not taking anything or anyone away from operations. “Our goal is to get into and remain in sustainment,” said Bailey. “The shipyard is our home and if we take ownership and keep it nice, I really feel that pride will be contagious and more people will do their part in keeping our shipyard clean while meeting our mission of fixing ships.”
BEFORE
AFTER
These photos showcase the Defense Logistics Agency dog pound before and after the cleanup orchestrated by Sherri Bailey and her team. MARCH 2019 • SERVICE TO THE FLEET • 23