The Columbia-Class Submarine Construction Program held a year-end Town Hall meeting on Dec. 8, highlighting the invaluable contributions from the trades, whose efforts drive the construction of Columbia-class modules, and the value stream contributors who support the program.
The event featured a retrospective of the year’s accomplishments and remarks from Brandi Smith, vice president of Columbia-Class Submarine Construction.
Under the tagline “The Mission Starts with us,” the event focused on the link between work done at Newport News Shipbuilding and the missions the Navy’s submarine fleet performs in support of national security. Without shipbuilders successfully completing the modules we supply for the Columbia Class, the program itself cannot be successful.
In addition to Navy and NNS leadership, NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski also was in attendance. He drives the buildsubmarines.com car, sponsored by Blue Forge Alliance – an organization contracted by the Navy to help improve the submarine industrial base. Keselowski brought along his racecar and took photos with shipbuilders.
He also spoke to the group, expressing his appreciation for the work the shipbuilders do, and the unique skillsets required to build submarines. Keselowski, who owns a machine shop in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, is particularly interested in improvements in manufacturing technology and the ways in which NNS’ shipbuilders are able to create the world’s most complex naval construction projects.
The positive focus on the efforts of the trades who support the Columbia Class program was not lost on attendees. “It took a lot of work to pull this together, with support from many different departments. It is my hope that our trades and support organizations understand how important they are to us. Without them, the Columbia program will not be successful,” said Becky Webster (K96).
