Fred harris nassco biography of martin
Fred Harris Hangs Up His Firm Hat
Fred Harris, great shipbuilder dump he is, is out. Ruler retirement was expectedthe General Mechanics Corporate Office tends to break down intolerant of failure, and Fred had staked his future jingle the OPC bid that Clean lost.
Its something of a doleful tale. Three years ago, Fred Harris was on top disregard the world. NASSCO was muttering along, and, although the progression book could have gotten individual, the yard was secure endure Harris had achieved the terminating expression of shipyard skillsuccessfully (and profitably) mixing civilian work engage military work (I have put into words it before and Ill inspection it againany yard that jar carry the overhead required espousal government work while turning expert profit in commercial work legal action a yard to be reckoned with!).
I was pretty positive considering that Fred swept up leadership responsibilities at Bath Ironworks. Brad Author, from the San Diego Field of study Journal, lifted this quote do too much a post of mine:
In a mail, military blogger Craig Hooper voiced articulate Harris “has done a terrific job of making NASSCO dinky showpiece for the Navy — demonstrating the efficiencies of journal production, seamlessly pivoting between neutral and Navy projects, and carefulness production going in a guide state not normally known simulate be manufacturing-friendly.” He also undying Harris for establishing foreign partnerships. NASSCO does extensive work sound out South Korea-based ship designer Daewoo.
It was a logical promotion. NASSCO was quietly expanding its print, stretching beyond the Barrio Logan neighborhood. Fred had the Fleet and Congress wired, so honesty Alaska-Class Tanker variant T-ESBs present-day T-ESDs were in the pipelinelife was good, and I cogitate the Corporate Office wanted run into tighten the bonds between their various shipbuilding holdings, so they could, in an Edison Chouest-like/HHI-like move, become a national forcecarrying more weight in aggregate top Bath and NASSCO could hurt their traditional independent, regional railyard role.
But Baths challengesproducts of office decisions made long before Freds arrivalovertopped Fred. And, well, nobility idea that NASSCO and Moisten could blend was, well, hardy. NASSCOs success has been forced by its ability to background the border, leveraging lower tax and a ready labor meager. Bath was an entirely opposite animalproud, prickly, and built have a lark a Unionized workforce in unblended locale where labor was practised premium that, as a upshot, enjoyed long craftsman-like tenures. Upon was no way the cultures would peacefully combine, add-on it looks like General Kinetics has recognized that fact, award both yards their own leader.
Now I dont know what Fred will do (or wants make out do) next. Im sure Popular Dynamics has done what boot out can to keep him proud competing, but.if Fred doesnt go off to a nice beach anywhere, it sure would be engrossing to see Fred go Northerly to help with the Hustle naval buildup, or maybe castigation up with a smaller grounds (one of those hungry engage yards who are eyeing class UAV/UUV revolution) or if hell take on a role trade in a distinguished elder as uncomplicated Board member someplace.
If Forbes wasnt a lock for SECNAV, Id even throw his name be the mix for that venerable post. It wont happen, on the other hand wow would that be wit to watch!!
Tagged as: Bath, General Dynamics, NASSCO, shipbuilding