There are big goals, and then there are massive plans. The difference is in both size and tactics. Goals are aspirational; plans are definitive. The U.S. Navy has an ambitious plan to construct one Columbia-Class and two Virginia-Class submarines annually. The Navy’s plan to transform and sustain its nuclear-powered submarine fleet will require the addition of more than 140,000 skilled workers with the training and commitment to ensure success. That is where the manufacturing industry comes in. The Navy needs the help of the entire manufacturing sector to execute a plan of this magnitude. Specifically, the Navy is targeting individual worker training and increased partnerships with non-traditional defense contractors. An Appeal at IMTS 2024 Rear Admiral Todd S. Weeks, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, appeared on the IMTS+ Main Stage during IMTS 2024 presenting, “Manufacturing Defense: Innovation in the submarine Industrial Base.” Weeks made a direct appeal to manufacturers to get involved in the effort to grow the submarine industrial base (SIB) — both as individual employees and as businesses working for the government through contracting vehicles. “Building submarines is no longer the purview of big defense companies. The Navy needs more,” explained Admiral Weeks. “We need small and medium-sized businesses that are innovative, that are committed, and that work hard. We need you because we need these submarines.” Weeks provided direct contacts for manufacturers who want to learn more about working with the U.S. Navy SIB Program (see sidebar). He also advised those that are new to government contracting to approach this new business opportunity with a lot of patience. “We are trying to improve our processes — to make it easier to work with the government,” Weeks said. “Rest assured, that we absolutely want you to be part of our business.” Partners in Planning One of the Navy’s key partners in the SIB effort is BlueForge Alliance (BFA), a non-profit integrator dedicated to enabling the submarine manufacturing industry by increasing capability, capacity, collaboration, and resilience. During IMTS 2024, BFA was prominently featured in AMT’s Emerging Technology Center (ETC). The ETC consistently features technologies that address the most pressing issues in manufacturing — from automation to productivity. In their exhibit, BFA focused on how they are partnering with manufacturers throughout the country to push the boundaries of submarine construction. Preparing the Next Generation While the Navy already has partners in every state in the Union, they need more. Admiral Weeks pointed out that the industrial base now has about a quarter of the suppliers they had during the Cold War era, but they have twice as much work to do. To build the capacity necessary to protect American interests and our way of life, the Navy is investing in training programs throughout the country. “We've established six regional talent training pipelines. This includes one in the Chicago area,” Admiral Weeks explained. “It also includes the Advanced Training and Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Initiative in Danville, Virginia, which has accelerated adult learning, really targeted towards the manufacturing trade skills that we need to be able to advance the submarine industrial base and advanced American manufacturing. And we've established the Buildsubmarines.com initiative.” Buildsubmarines.com is a repository for jobs and training programs in the SIB. The website aims to discover, connect, and employ the most exceptional and promising talent with the Navy’s existing network of more than 15,000 suppliers to bridge this widening talent gap. Meanwhile, the regional training pipelines are helping to build the next generation of talent, along with the ATDM. Launched in 2020, the ATDM was founded as a fast-track program for training skilled workers at scale. It aims to train approximately 1,000 skilled workers annually in additive manufacturing, CNC machining, metrology (quality control), non-destructive testing, and welding. The Navy Needs You How do you build 1+2 submarines annually? With a massive workforce and extensive partnerships. While addressing the diverse audience of non-traditional defense manufacturers, Weeks stated, "The big [defense] firms, they look like us, they perform like us, they behave like us. If we are going to innovate, we need new blood. We need you too. Your Navy, your nation, needs your help,” Admiral Weeks concluded. “We are facing an unprecedented threat, and we are in the process of recapitalizing our fleet. We need you.” Watch the full presentation at IMTS.com/ManufacturingDefense and discover the exciting advancements showcased at IMTS 2024 on IMTS+ at IMTS.com/plus.
The Navy needs you! To transform its nuclear-powered submarine fleet, the U.S. Navy will require more than 140,000 new skilled workers and the partnership of the entire manufacturing sector.