Mr. Jim Bleich, SSTM, is the Senior Science Technical Manager and Naval Undersea Warfare (NUWC) Division, Acting Technical Director.
Bleich previously served as Undersea Weapons Department Head. In this role, Mr. Bleich lead a $200M organization of over 500 personnel supporting United States Navy Undersea Weapons engineering, integration, and production. The department includes two torpedo Intermediate Maintenance Activity production facilities producing lightweight and heavyweight torpedoes, the repair depot, lightweight in service torpedo division, and a mines and ordnance movement division.
In his prior roles, Bleich was the In Service Engineering Department Head and Undersea Weapons Deputy Department Head. As the Undersea Weapons’ Depot Division Head from 2014 to 2017, he oversaw an operation of over 150 personnel, executing a budget in excess of $30M, supporting multiple customers, producing more than 3,000 pieces of ready for issue material each year.
As a Customer Advocate from September 2011 to 2013, Bleich had cognizance over Keyport tasking for the non weapons Team Submarine in service and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) programs including submarine platforms, SONAR systems and outboard sensors, combat control systems and cyber, imaging and electronic warfare systems, submarine training systems, and submarine special programs.
Early in his career at NUWC Division, Keyport, he supported development of ILS packages and products for the Virginia Class submarine during the construction phase. He went on to develop innovate approaches to in service engineering for the ARCI and BYG 1 programs laying the groundwork for long term support of both commercial off the shelf and legacy systems. Prior to joining the NUWC Division, Keyport team in 1998, Bleich spent 13 years as a defense contractor supporting Navy programs and serving as an on site representative in a government shop, developing engineering solutions for in service engineering, depot operations, and logistics.
Bleich has a Masters in Public Administration from Indiana University, a Master in Technology and Engineering Management from City University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University. He holds two Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certifications, including level III in Engineering and level II in Project Management, and is also a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.
Bleich is married to his bride of 31 years, Kimberly. They have two grown children and four grandchildren. He enjoys being with his family, being outside and playing games, volunteering as a handy man, being active in his church, and is active as a tri athlete.