New Commander at PHNSY & IMF

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii – Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) held a change of command ceremony July 7 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Capt. Greg Burton relieved Capt. Jamie Kalowsky as the 47th commander of the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii and the largest ship repair facility between the U.S. West Coast and the Far East.

In remarks immediately following his assumption of the Shipyard’s helm, Burton reflected on the responsibilities which accompany command. “I feel the weight of that responsibility now,” said Burton. “That additional load on my shoulders will provide me the traction I need to stay focused and work with this great Shipyard team.”

Burton is no stranger to Pearl Harbor, having been assigned to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) as Maintenance Requirements, Readiness and Improvements Officer from 2012 to 2014. He most recently served as Operations and Product Line Officer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and presiding officer for the change of command ceremony, expressed confidence in Burton as the new Shipyard commanding officer.

“Pearl Harbor is getting another remarkable officer in Greg Burton,” said Moore.

“With a work-force driven to deliver ships and submarines on-time, I am confident he will build on (Kalowsky’s) success."

Moore presented Kalowsky with a Legion of Merit medal for his exceptionally meritorious conduct during his outstanding three-year tour of duty as Shipyard commander. Kalowsky was credited with improving the material condition of the Pacific Fleet naval force and reducing lost fleet operational days due to maintenance by over 80% during his tour. He was also praised for his inspired guidance and technical knowledge which resulted in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s receipt of laboratory status by the Office of Naval Research.

In recognizing the Shipyard’s departing commanding officer, Moore also reflected on the important role played by the Shipyard in the nation’s defense, and how the PHNSY & IMF workforce has overcome obstacles to meet the mission of keeping the fleet “Fit to Fight!”

“At any given time, one-third of the U.S. Navy’s ships are in maintenance,” said Moore. “Today’s Navy demands that ships must be delivered from repairs on-time, every time. Any delay places stress on the fleet. The Pearl Harbor work-force has risen to this challenge, reducing delays and returning our precious assets to the fleet early.”

Rear Adm. Stephen Williamson, Director, Fleet Maintenance, U.S. Pacific Fleet, commended Kalowsky’s leadership in a time when the importance of the Shipyard has grown.

“Of the Navy’s four shipyards, none is more strategically located than Pearl Harbor,” said Williamson. “Under (Kalowsky’s) command, the Shipyard seen a period of growth in both work load and complexity of work, and has met every challenge.”

In his remarks to the PHNSY & IMF workforce, Kalowsky reflected on the Shipyard’s core mission. “Here in Pearl Harbor, you, the workers who defend our nation, have met the call to deliver ships and submarines on time,” said Kalowsky. “You have decreased unscheduled maintenance days from nearly 600 days in 2014 to just over 100 in 2017.”

“You defend our Nation,” proclaimed Kalowsky to his work force. “You are the professionals who repair, maintain, and modernize the surface ships and submarines of the Pacific Fleet. You keep them Fit to Fight!”

Kalowsky assumed command of PHNSY & IMF in August 2014. He will stay in Hawaii for his next assignment as Maintenance Requirements, Readiness and Improvements Officer onto the staff of Command, Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC).

PHNSY & IMF is a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and a one-stop regional maintenance center for the Navy's surface ships and submarines. It is the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii with a combined civilian and military workforce of over 5,000. Strategically located in the mid-Pacific, the Navy’s largest ship repair facility between the West Coast and the Far East is about a week of steam time closer to potential regional contingencies in East Asia than sites on the West Coast.

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