Page 72: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2025)

Obituary

Fred Harris – 1944-2025 rederick Joseph Harris of design, engineering, procurement and

Mystic CT, passed peacefully construction of several classes of Naval at 5:47PM on 10/24/2025, Auxiliary Surface Vessels for the United with his family by his side. States Navy (USN) and the Military

F “Fred” was born on 11/25/1944 at Fram- Sealift Command (MSC) and for mul- ingham Union Hospital to Frederick Ev- tiple designs of cargo and tanker surface erett and MaryRosa Camilla Harris. vessels for commercial US shipping

Fred received his bachelor’s degree in customers involved in the Jones Act US

Marine Engineering from Maine Mari- shipping trade. Major military and com- time Academy (with Honors) in 1967. mercial ship program accomplishments

Upon graduation, Fred was commis- include design, engineering, procure- sioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve with the ment and construction associated with: obligation of sailing in the U.S. Merchant Fourteen dry cargo and ammunition

General Dynamics - NASSCO

Marine. In the Merchant Marine, Fred ships of the LEWIS and CLARK Class sailed on various U.S. ? ag vessels, most (TAKE) for the USN/MSC - rescuing best business practices earned him a suc- notably aboard the SS Transglobe - the the program from construction delays cession of promotions at Electric Boat, most decorated American merchant ship and cost overruns to one of the most suc- including Vice President and VIRGIN- of the Vietnam War. Following his sailing cessful shipbuilding programs in Naval IA Class Program Manager, Vice Presi- career, which he completed as Chief En- history by invoking signi? cant process dent of Programs and Sr. Vice President gineer, he entered Babson College, where and productivity improvements leading of Programs. Under Fred’s leadership, he received his MBA in 1972. Soon after to an unprecedented ship schedule disci- the VIRGINIA Class Program earned a graduation, Fred began his shipbuilding pline and cost reduction effort. Multiple reputation as the premier shipbuilding career as a senior systems engineer for Mobile Landing Platforms (MLP) - later program in the U.S. Navy, with the ? rst

Electric Boat in the TRIDENT Nuclear renamed Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) submarine of the class completed within

Submarine Project. Fred joined EB as an Naval auxiliary ? eet support ships. Mul- three months of the original planned de- engineer in the OHIO Class nuclear sub- tiple crude oil tankers, product carriers livery date set 10 years earlier. marine program with increasing respon- and cargo surface vessels for several In recognition of his accomplishments sibility for the design, engineering and US shipping companies involved in US in the Shipbuilding industry, Fred held procurement of equipment for the nuclear Jones Act trade. many non-GD leadership positions and propulsion plant associated with the de- In 2013, Fred was assigned as the received numerous honors, including: livery of 18 Trident Class ships. Fred led President of General Dynamics Bath • Maine Maritime Academy Outstand- the Virgina Class Program Management Iron Works responsible for the design, ing Alumni Award (2000) organization for the submarine design- engineering, procurement and construc- • Past Board Chair, American Shipbuild- build concept leading to on time delivery tion for two classes of the USN's de- ing Association st of the 1 Virginia Class attack submarine, stroyer programs including the Arleigh • SNAME William M. Kennedy Award

VIRGINIA, SSN 774, in 2004. Fred then Burke Class advanced ? ight guided mis- (2002) led the design and engineering effort to sile destroyers and the Zumwalt Class • Harold E. Saunders Award, given by incorporate Virginia Class lessons learned advanced multi-mission stealth de- the American Society of Naval Engi- into the construction program to support stroyers. Fred retired from GD-Bath in neers (ASNE), for his signi? cant contri- the unique requirements associated with December 2016. Following GD retire- butions to naval engineering (2010); the 3rd Seawolf Class submarine, USS ment, he provided technical consulting • SNAME Vice Admiral Emory Scott

JIMMY CARTER, SSN 23 at which time, services in support of ship construction Land Medal (2012) he was promoted to VP of programs. to several nations, including France, • The Royal Institution of Naval Archi-

In 2006, Fred was promoted as the Spain and Australia tects (RINA) William Froude Medal

President of General Dynamics Na- Fred’s thorough knowledge of ship (2012), tional Steel and Shipbuilding Compa- construction processes, design and build • Maine Maritime Academy Honorary ny (GD-NASSCO) responsible for the practices, and his openness to seek out PhD (2010).

72 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • November 2025

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