BREMERTON, Wash. –
The National Association of Superintendents has selected Chris Klinkert as its 2024 Superintendent of the Year, according to a recent NAS announcement.
Klinkert, director, Code 700, Lifting and Handling Department, was selected for her work as a servant leader at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, according to the announcement.
During the past year, “Klinkert provided a high level of leadership consistently. She also provided service by living and promoting such leadership attributes as trust, transparency, safety and respect. Her unwavering drive to support our workforce has also cultivated a healthy relationship of accountability and respect with them," according to the announcement.
A committee of past awardees, including 2023 recipient Ben Godsey, George Washington (CVN 73) project superintendent, Code 312, Aircraft Carrier Program Office, convened to select this year's award winner.
In making the selection, NAS committee members noted Klinkert's ability to connect with employees at all levels across the command.
"Although Klinkert maintains an extremely busy schedule, she also takes time to connect with the workforce through daily interactions or activities after hours. She serves the NAS well through work on multiple committees, and she's a distinguished leader not only within the command, but is well respected and serves their community well," according to the announcement. "Klinkert works across multiple departments to support the mission and vision of our command, serving as the co-chair of the Command Culture and Engagement Council and Co- Champion of the Workforce Development KBA at PSNS & IMF."
Klinkert's commitment to service was also key in helping her to lead her department through a bevy of operations in 2024, according to the NAS announcement.
"Klinkert served the command well during 2024, while leading her department through continued support of non-stop execution of crane, rigging and dive operations across multiple projects and TDY locations while maintaining a critical eye on areas needing improvement and driving the right corrective actions to ensure continued growth," according to the announcement.