Page 13: of Marine News Magazine (October 2020)

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INSIGHTS

I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business man- agement from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as certi? cates on executive leadership from the Har- vard Business School, executive ? nance from the Wharton

School of Business and executive marketing from the Uni- versity of Maryland.

Robert “Bob”

I spent most of my career at Ingalls Shipbuilding, leading programs critical to both the business and the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Ingalls is an exceptional shipyard build-

Merchent

All photos: Halter Marine ing major surface combatants, amphibious assault ships and Coast Guard cutters for the government. Ingalls is true national asset. My time there culminated in the role as the

President and CEO,

Vice President, Surface Combatants, Fleet Services and U.S.

Halter Marine

Coast Guard Programs. It’s because of my extensive experi- ence with Coast Guard programs that I was both attracted

Please describe your professional background and to the role at Halter Marine and perhaps why I was asked to what attracted you to your current position.

join the company. During my time at Ingalls working on the

In June 2020, I was named president and chief execu- National Security Cutter program, I observed several U.S. tive of? cer of Halter Marine. I had been retired around six Coast Guard commandants state how important our ice- years. My wife and I bought a piece of property outside of breakers were to our national strategy. The fact remains that

Brookhaven, Miss., and we were enjoying retired life split the few ice breakers we have in service today are way beyond between our country property and our home in Gautier, the end of their planned service life. And our nation is in-

Miss. Earlier this year, I was asked if I would consider a curring exorbitant costs keeping these few assets operational. consulting role for Halter Marine, which led to my even- The bottom line is our nation sorely needs a ? eet of new tual position as CEO. icebreakers in order to ful? ll the missions levied on our U.S. 13 www.marinelink.com MN