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NEWS | Aug. 26, 2019

Local commands graduate 12 trained to lead innovation

By Max Maxfield, PSNS & IMF Public Affairs

Culminating five weeks of comprehensive training in process improvement and change management, 10 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility employees graduated from the Naval Sea Systems Command Lean Six Sigma Black Belt program in a ceremony Aug. 23 at the Norm Dicks Government Center.

Two employees from Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific also graduated from the course, which was hosted and facilitated by PSNS & IMF.

The course leads to certification as a Black Belt practitioner of organizations improvement processes using the using the Lean Six Sigma methodology. These skills are intended to enable them to lead teams in analyzing work processes to develop improvements in efficiency or quality.

Capt. Dianna Wolfson, commander of PSNS & IMF, was the guest speaker at the event, she charged the graduates with using their skills to help their organizations meet the Navy’s and the nation’s growing needs.

“We must keep up with our advancing technology and all the opportunities for innovation that technology presents,” Wolfson said. “We need to continue to be agile and ready to act with a sense of urgency.  The performance of our shipyard teams on the platforms that ensure and support strategic deterrence is critical to our continued national security.”

Wolfson added that the importance of the Navy’s work requires that the graduates persevere despite barrier to change that they may encounter.

“Keep trying, keep pushing, stay engaged, continue challenging, share your knowledge, coach and mentor others in these Lean principles and practices, and always keep learning,” she said.  “You’ve had this awesome training opportunity, and we’ve invested in you toward becoming an expert at improving things.  Now help us do it.”  

Graduating were:

•           Glenn Cote, PSNS & IMF
•           Myles Ian, PSNS & IMF
•           Shelby Marsh-Quinlan, PSNS & IMF
•           Greg Noah, PSNS & IMF
•           Kevin Norton, PSNS & IMF
•           Jennifer Ogletree, PSNS & IMF
•           Donald Smithhisler, PSNS & IMF
•           Anthony Thoennes, PSNS & IMF
•           Camden Wheatcroft, PSNS & IMF
•           Patrick Wombolt, PSNS & IMF
•           John Annonen, SWFPAC
•           Master Chief Missile Technician Christopher Wishard, SWFPAC