BREMERTON, Wash. –
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility is “the backbone of what gets done,” the secretary of the Navy told a gathering of hundreds of shipyard workers and Sailors during a whirlwind visit to the facility Friday.
Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer addressed members of the PSNS & IMF workforce then toured key projects and facilities during his hour-and-45-minute visit at the shipyard.
“Know that what you are doing cannot be replaced,” said Spencer. “The work you do keeps our men and women in uniform safe.”
Spencer’s visit to PSNS & IMF was the last stop of a west coast tour that included a stay at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington. He also visited naval activities in Alaska, California and Nevada.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Spencer.
Accompanied by PSNS & IMF Commander Capt. Dianna Wolfson, Spencer toured most of the shipyard’s dry docks for an update on the progress of key ship maintenance projects. He also got an up-close look at the Naval Sustainment System – Shipyards initiative underway at the shipyard. As part of the NSS - S initiative, a consulting firm is working with key shipyard process managers at PSNS & IMF and at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia to bring commercial best practices into the naval maintenance process. Its goal is to eliminate barriers to on-time completion of maintenance projects.
“It was an honor to have Mr. Spencer here, to hear his perspective on our Navy’s priorities, to gain a deeper understanding of how we fit into those priorities, and to provide him with some detail on our most important projects and innovations,” Wolfson said. “I think his visit was a clear signal about how important our work is to the Navy and to the nation. I’m grateful that he took time to see this work up close, learn more about our team and walk away knowing that he can count on PSNS&IMF to be the shipyard our Navy needs.”