Page 36: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2021)

SHIPBUILDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Shelby West

Nuclear Quality Division’s (Code 2350) Nuclear Quality Support Specialist Catherine Hobb, a graduate of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard apprenticeship program observes her brother Rigging and

Equipment Operation’s (Code 740) Apprentice Noah Coburn as he rigs up equipment. T eir father,

Richard Coburn, also had a career at NNSY, graduating from the apprenticeship program in 1987. after graduation, and many with the companies for which they reimbursement program, which will reimburse supply chain interned. Interns get paid, hands-on, on-the-job work experi- companies 100 percent of trade and industrial skill training ence, and our host companies get to know and train prospec- costs, up to $30,000,” Magee said. “This is an investment in tive employees.” the individual employee today, and in the strength of our indus-

She further emphasized the important role of southeastern try tomorrow, as many of these skills are transferable and are

New England as the hub of submarine shipbuilding and un- essential to the continued growth of submarine shipbuilding.” dersea technology. Defense jobs support the building of the

New talent, tools submarine and the technology and design of the systems on submarines and unmanned undersea vehicles. A strong under- While ship builders and repair yards have always been con- sea defense helps ensure our national security. cerned with training new workers, the challenge today is espe- “As part of our DoD award, we launched www.BuildSub- cially acute because senior level workers are retiring, and, as marines.com to serve as a workforce resource, including a tal- a group, the current workforce lacks the appropriate array of ent repository where prospective trade and industrial skilled digital skills to fully utilize the next generation of tools, said re- workers can share their contact information and connect with tired Rear Adm. Brad Williamson, the executive director of the employers. We have also developed a supplier database, allow- Hampton Roads Maritime Industrial Base Ecosystem (MIBE).

ing companies who are or could be part of the submarine sup- “The new workers who will build Columbia-class submarines ply chain, to highlight their company and capabilities. In our when that program is at full rate production are in now middle latest effort through the Submarine Shipbuilding Supply Chain school. These same workers will need to be trained in modern

Partnership, we have initiated an incumbent worker training equipment and will also need these skills to build the new un- 36 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • August 2021

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