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NEWS | April 1, 2021

Navy Unveils New Submarine Universal Modular Mast Maintenance Tower with Ribbon-Cutting

By David Todd, NAVFAC Public Affairs

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic, in conjunction with Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new Submarine Universal Modular Mast (UMM) Maintenance Tower onboard NAVSTA Norfolk today.


Capt. Tres Meek, commanding officer, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic; Capt. Dianna Wolfson, commander, NNSY, and Capt. Vince Baker, commanding officer, NAVSTA Norfolk participated. Due to ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols, attendance for the ceremony was limited.


“The project made good use of naval design and construction expertise, while also welcoming invaluable input from the end user, our tenant commands, who will ultimately meet and achieve the Navy’s mission,” said Meek. “This new facility will provide great support directly to our warfighters and helps us to increase fleet readiness.”


Built by Norfolk-based Tazewell Contracting, the new 55 foot tall, 1,300 square foot tower will have a major impact in servicing the Navy’s modern, state-of-the-art Virginia and future-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The contract was awarded in May of 2018 and construction finalized in January of 2021.


The overall Project Manager was Carl Tarkenton, from Public Works Department (PWD) Norfolk. Design was led by architect Robert Frank (NAVFAC) and construction was managed by Michael Van Dyke (PWD Norfolk), with input from NNSY and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) technical expert team led by Richard Csernelabics (NAVSEA).

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic, in conjunction with Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new Submarine Universal Modular Mast (UMM) Maintenance Tower onboard NAVSTA Norfolk today.


Capt. Tres Meek, commanding officer, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic; Capt. Dianna Wolfson, commander, NNSY, and Capt. Vince Baker, commanding officer, NAVSTA Norfolk participated. Due to ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols, attendance for the ceremony was limited.


“The project made good use of naval design and construction expertise, while also welcoming invaluable input from the end user, our tenant commands, who will ultimately meet and achieve the Navy’s mission,” said Meek. “This new facility will provide great support directly to our warfighters and helps us to increase fleet readiness.”
Built by Norfolk-based Tazewell Contracting, the new 55 foot tall, 1,300 square foot tower will have a major impact in servicing the Navy’s modern, state-of-the-art Virginia and future-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. The contract was awarded in May of 2018 and construction finalized in January of 2021.


The overall Project Manager was Carl Tarkenton, from Public Works Department (PWD) Norfolk. Design was led by architect Robert Frank (NAVFAC) and construction was managed by Michael Van Dyke (PWD Norfolk), with input from NNSY and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) technical expert team led by Richard Csernelabics (NAVSEA).