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Teamwork a Key Element in Truman's Successful Availability

NAVSEA News Wire

Release Date: 3/15/2004

By Steve Milner, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. -- President Harry S. Truman would have been proud of the way Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) completed an availability on the aircraft carrier bearing his name: NNSY did this work safely, ahead of schedule, within budget and with close attention to quality.

In the words of Captain Michael R. Groothousen, Commanding Officer of USS Harry S. Truman, "Fit to Fight" is what we asked for and NNSY delivered."

Describing this six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), which finished two-days ahead of the scheduled completion date, Captain Groothousen said, "The USS Harry S. Truman and Norfolk Naval Shipyard Team were joined at the hip prior to, during and after the availability. The success of this availability, as during Truman's previous experience at NNSY, all revolved around teamwork. Since day one of this relationship, each partner has strived for quality in a safe and cost wise environment; we owe that to the taxpayers and our nation, especially in time of war."

Captain Groothousen added, "We Truman Sailors worked very hard to make ourselves available to support key events where the shipyard needed our presence or assistance. Conversely, NNSY respected our quality of life concerns and continuously fought with us for a cleaner, safer and more habitable environment."

Truman's Commanding Officer said he never received push back on quality issues, adding, "As the customer and servant to the taxpayer, NNSY and their project leadership looked into and rectified each of our concerns." He continued, "as in any organization, for the Truman team, early and continuous communication is a key factor in the success of an availability."

Eight months before Truman entered NNSY on Aug. 20, 2003, the shipyard began building the project team, according to Project Superintendent Glenn Edwards. "The expectations were high, since Truman's first PIA, in 2001, was a huge success for NNSY, and passed onto us to continue that success," Edwards said.

Edwards also attributed the success of Truman's availability to what he termed "the outstanding support" the team received from various waterfront shops and NNSY departments and codes.

And in his message following the successful completion of the Truman availability, Rear Adm. J. M. Zortman, Commander Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, said, "Well done to the Harry S. Truman Planned Incremental Availability team for a very successful event at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, from August 2003 to February 2004. The team, comprised of the officers and crew of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and NNSY Truman project personnel, excelled throughout this intensive availability and contributed significantly to the attainment of increased readiness in support of the Fleet Response Plan (FRP) and the global war on terrorism."

According to Rear Adm. Zortman, the integrated project team set the standard for follow-on teams to emulate and improve upon. He said the team identified several execution best practices, and shared them with the Carrier One Team maintenance community, which contributes to the success of future availabilities

"NNSY has an unmatched reputation for delivering Nimitz class carriers on time. I know that this doesn't happen by accident," he added. "But rather is the result of meticulous planning and execution by dedicated and disciplined professionals."

This PIA included fire main piping replacements, service steam piping replacement, chill water piping upgrades, 115 volt upgrades, load center switchboard modifications, titanium fire pump installation, JBD (jet blast deflectors) repairs, wire rope replacement on aircraft elevators, ventilation system repairs in the propulsion plants, numerous valve and pump overhauls, and electrical equipment refurbishments. Accomplishing this work was all part of the Truman Project Team's Mission: "Working Together, We Continue to Make the Best Better"," Edwards said.