“We are deeply grateful for Michelle’s vision, commitment, and the lasting impact that she has made on our organization,” Chris Chadwick, chairman of Austal USA’s board of managers, said in a statement announcing the change.
“We need to make a dent into that,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said of the Navy's 355-ship requirement. “I think the chairman, and I think the secretary of Navy and the secretary of War agree that that the Navy needs a budget commensurate with its mission set.”
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The government shut down Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass an FY26 budget.
"This is a pivotal time for the Navy and U.S. shipbuilding writ large. Tom brings a wealth of experience and unique perspectives that will accelerate the delivery of novel solutions to our customers' most elusive industrial base challenges,” said Hanwha Defense USA President and CEO Mike Smith.
The staffer leading the relatively new office, Ian Bennitt, announced his departure late Wednesday night on social media.
The heavy reliance on reconciliation to fund staple shipbuilding programs has rubbed both senior Republican and Democratic lawmakers the wrong way.
On today’s battlefield, mobility isn’t optional - it’s mission-critical.
Matt Sermon, head of the Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base Program, in this op-ed puts out the call for a larger shipbuilding workforce as a national security imperative.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan manages the readiness, development, and well-being of nearly one million Sailors, Marines, and civilian personnel within the Department of the Navy.
"Those folks are coming, and then we're attriting out way too quick," said Brett Seidle, the Navy’s acting acquisition executive.
The bill, "Save Our Shipyards Act," is co-sponsored by a trio of bipartisan House members.
As threats evolve, the winning model ties digital engineering to manufacturing capacity and a reindustrialized supply chain.
"To boost our defense industrial base, we are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding,” President Donald Trump told lawmakers during a joint session of Congress.
Former navy undersecretary Erik Raven lays out his recommendation for how Trump administration can push ahead on shipbuilding.
“I know he really cares about it, and having him in the White House as the National Security Advisor, in my view is a very positive thing,” Sen. Mark Kelly said of the bill's first cosponsor, Rep. Mike Waltz.
“I don't see us building destroyers in Philadelphia,” Hanwha Defense USA CEO Mike Smith said. “I do see us building the fleet the Navy needs next.”