KITTERY, Maine - Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) was announced as the winner of the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Robert T. Mason Award for Depot Maintenance Excellence for the record setting engineered overhaul of USS Alexandria (SSN 757).
PNSY delivered attack submarine Alexandria back to the fleet approximately two-weeks early and $9 million under budget. Completion of the 280,000 man-day engineered overhaul established significant benchmarks in safety and first-time quality, making Alexandria's overhaul the fastest in the Navy's history.
"NAVSEA's top priority is the on-time delivery of ships and submarines so that we can expand our warfighting advantage," said Vice Adm. Tom Moore, commander, NAVSEA. "Maintenance wins like Alexandria highlight the amazing work and dedication of our shipyard employees and their steadfast commitment to our national defense."
The project team, ship's crew, and the entire Portsmouth Naval Shipyard organization utilized improved processes, innovative management techniques, and sound leadership principles to meet every major overhaul milestone on, or ahead of schedule with best-ever quality and safety records. Returning Alexandria to the fleet early resulted in a smooth post-overhaul transition from the Atlantic to the Pacific Fleet, which also improved the quality of life for the ship's crew and their families.
"The workforce really took ownership of their work. They're empowered to suggest and implement improvements to ensure first-time quality," said Project Superintendent Scott Curtis. "Our mechanics, engineers, inspectors, support personnel and ship's crew really came together as a collaborative team to become the driving force behind this record setting overhaul."
The SECDEF Maintenance Awards are presented annually in recognition of outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The depot-level award is named in honor of Robert T. Mason, a former assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for maintenance policy, programs, and resources.
"The [Mason] award is a true testament to the efforts we have made to empower our workforce to drive innovation and efficiency in all aspects of our work," said Shipyard Commander, Capt. Dave Hunt. "By focusing on people first, and safety always, Portsmouth will continue to deliver excellence for the Navy and the nation."
The awards will be presented to the winners Dec. 6 in the Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico during the awards banquet in conjunction with the 2016 Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium.
PNSY is the Navy's center of excellence for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization. As a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, PNSY is committed to maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first-time quality, on time, and on budget.
- NAVSEA -
Media Point of Contact
Danna Eddy
Public Affairs Officer
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
(207) 438-1525
danna.eddy@navy.mil