Fifty of the shipyard’s most senior employees had an opportunity in June to join the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) on a one-day sea trial. For most of them it was their first chance taking to sea one of the ships they have helped build since BIW started building Arleigh Burkes.
“The DDG 51 is the bread and butter of my whole career…I know that ship like the back of my hand but I’ve never been out on one,” said Lewis Nadeau, a BIW Shipfitter for 36 years.
“It was exciting…made me proud of what we do here,” said Jim Lebrun, Maintenance Electrician with 43 years in the yard.
It was a picture-perfect day on the water – blue sky and sunshine. For Sr. Project Manager Mo Doyon, a 43-year employee, the high-speed run was the highlight.
“To actually see the rooster tail and to feel the awesome power of that ship, as big as it is, and then to go through the water like a little speed boat,” he said. “The magnitude of the power was exhilarating. You don’t get that unless you’re there on the ship.”
The Delta Trial was only to calibrate certain equipment, so the number of people needed was less than a typical trial.
“Every employee that I have ever talked to who went on a sea trial has remarked how powerful the experience was for them,” said Dave Clark, Vice President, Operations. “We never have room beyond the necessary riders, so when this unexpected event presented itself, I immediately thought of all those people who have hoped for an opportunity for something like this.”
A special shout out to Administrative Technician Crystal Nittinger, who in addition to checking people in for the sea trial also served as mission photographer. She and fellow Print Shop employee Megan Bowen afterward identified the riders in each picture and made sure they got a keepsake photograph of themselves from the trip.
