Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
WASHINGTON — Rusty Murdaugh, president of the Alabama-based shipbuilder Austal USA, resigned from his position today, the company said.
Murdaugh took over as acting president of Austal USA, a subsidiary of the eponymously named Australian company, in February 2021 in the wake of the resignation of his own predecessor Craig Perciavalle. Murdaugh was named as the company’s permanent leader in Sept. 2021. He previously served as Austal’s chief financial officer since March 2017. The company did not say why Murdaugh resigned.
In a statement, Austal USA said Murdaugh led the company “through significant changes that ushered in a period of unprecedented growth.”
“Rusty made a lasting impact on the company,” said Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg. “The transformation and growth of Austal USA under his leadership has postured the company for the future with a diversified and balanced portfolio. Rusty is leaving Austal USA with unlimited growth potential and we thank him for all his hard work and dedication over the last two years.”
Michelle Kruger, the company’s vice president for global services and support, has been named acting president until a successor is found. In a separate statement, Austal’s Australian parent company said it would begin a search for Murdaugh’s permanent replacement.
Murdaugh did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent via LinkedIn.
Austal USA is a staple shipbuilder for the US Navy. It is nearing completion of its part in the longstanding Littoral Combat Ship program and in recent years invested heavily, with help from the Pentagon, into a new steel ship construction line. Those new steel facilities have helped bring numerous jobs to the company such as constructing a new floating dry dock for the Navy, helping General Dynamics Electric Boat build parts of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and winning the second phase of the US Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter program.
New Army mounted system won’t play favorites when it comes to C5ISR, EW and A-PNT
The CMOSS Mounted Form Factor will facilitate tech insertion for new capabilities while co-existing with the Mounted Family of Computer Systems.
Marines eye 2025 fielding of 3 new, mobile air defense systems
“We are on track from a programmatic standpoint — cost, schedule performance — but we’re always gonna be late to need,” said Col. Andrew Konicki, the program manager for Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD). “The threat is ever changing and ever evolving.”
