Page 37: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2021)

SHIPBUILDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT manned and autonomous platforms that are expected to make termediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY-IMF) Apprentice- up a larger and larger portion of our ? eet in the years ahead,” ship Training Program, which is certi? ed by the U.S. Depart-

Williamson said. “These skills require the adoption of the latest ment of Labor and administered through a contract between technology, not only in the shipyards and ship repair facilities, Honolulu Community College. PHNSY’s 2019 class was its but in the training pipelines that produce these workers.” biggest ever, with 278 graduates. The 2020 class, the 100th

Plus, Williamson said, the maritime industry is competing anniversary of the program, had 208 graduates, bringing the with other industries for talent. “In Hampton Roads, we face total number of apprentices to 5,800 since the program began. current and future hiring competition both for speci? c skills Apprentices received a minimum of 7,200 hours of on-the-job and for general personnel who might choose to enter the mari- training, trade theory, and academic study during the program. time trades. This includes non-naval maritime projects such as Upon successful completion of the program, apprentices re-

Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion, offshore wind in- ceive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) Degree in Ap- frastructure and construction, and other industries in the region. plied Trades and are promoted to journey workers in trades

On the Public side, Williamson said that the Norfolk Naval such as structural, mechanical, electrical/electronic, piping,

Shipyard is overhauling its training program and facilities and air conditioning and refrigeration, and temporary services. has done a remarkable job at better understanding the compe- Apprentices spend half the day in the classroom and the other tencies required for each availability and where those skills half working with their shop.

lie within their workforce, and then most importantly, getting Pang was working multiple jobs, when she saw the an- after the delta up front to ensure they have the right work- nouncement of the Shipyard Job Fair. I was able to talk to force in place once the availability starts. “MIBE is partnered people from the different shops about the various trades. I ap- with NAVSEA on working to create alignment with the skill- plied to take the test, passed it and went through the interview sets between the private and public side. This is not an easy process, and was accepted to the program,” she said. task, but a worthy effort to see how much alignment we can Pang said it was a little overwhelming at ? rst. “I didn’t know achieve. Some of the larger forward-leaning private maritime anything about being a diesel crane mechanic. But the shipyard yards have invested in their own training pipelines, but this is really took me in and taught me all the skills that I would need, not necessarily an option for smaller repair facilities.” and not just for that job, but a lot of other things.

MIBE focuses extensively on building better linkages with Pang learned about the Apprentice to Engineer (A2E) pro- middle school and high school programs to bring maritime gram, where quali? ed and motivated Apprentice Program trades into view. “We partner with our Virginia Digital Ship- graduates can pursue a four-year engineering degree with her building Program which does extensive STEM outreach and tuition and related educational fees paid by the Navy. we have proposals pending for Congressional approval that “Since I entered the apprenticeship program to have a ca- would provide funding to support maritime trades training in reer, this seemed like a good next step. It was a big motivator these school systems speci? cally designed to assist those in for me,” said Pang.

underserved communities,” Williamson said. “Our message is Ten years later, Pang attended the University of Hawaii at quite simple, these maritime trades can provide not just a job, Manoa College of Engineering and earned her Bachelor of but a long-term career and the chance for continued growth Engineering Degree. “After I got my degree, I was assigned and opportunity.” to work with the nuclear engineers in Code 2320. They’re in-

With the demand for skilled employees in the maritime volved with anything involved with nuclear submarine pro- trades, there is competition between the government and in- pulsion. I recently transferred to 2310 and working on the dustry for talent, as well as other ? eet concentration areas or structural side of nuclear engineering.” naval shipbuilders beyond the Tidewater region. “This is why Even now she receives a signi? cant amount of training, our current efforts with NAVSEA are so important,” said Wil- like everyone else at the yard. “It’s something that never liamson. “The goal is to someday have a workforce that could stops.” Pang said the knowledge and skills she’s received theoretically ? ow across public-private lines so that one uni- have been invaluable. “I started when I was 29. I’ve accom- ? ed workforce could meet Navy demands in the most ef? cient plished a lot in ten years,” she said. “If I could have done it manner possible.” differently, I would have done it a lot sooner.”

She doesn’t hesitate to recommend the apprenticeship pro-

Life changing opportunities gram to someone with some con? dence, curiosity and drive.

Starting a career in the maritime trades can be life chang- “Take the risk. Try it out. Trust the process. Take in what ing. So, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard engineer Lauryn-Mae the shipyard has to offer. I didn’t think that as a diesel crane

Pang has some advice for young people looking for a career: mechanic doing small jobs that I would eventually become “Change it up!” a nuclear mechanical engineer working on entire propulsion

She is a product of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard – In- systems. So, just go out there and do it! Change it up!” www.marinelink.com 37

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