VSRA Ship Repair Radio

Virginia Ship Repair Association

Welcome to Ship Repair Radio, the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association. This show dives into the realities of keeping the Navy ready and the everyday friction on the waterfront. Virginia ship repair is a strategic national asset, and maintaining our strategic advantage requires a wartime mindset and a change in how we do business. In each episode, we bring together voices from across our 320+ member companies, defense industry leaders, and maritime influencers to discuss the real bottlenecks in the yard. We focus on eliminating bureaucratic friction, enabling LMA-AIT integration, and championing the skilled tradesmen and women who serve as the backbone of our national security. Because at the end of the day, a predictable, stable workload is the primary driver of our industry's health: Workload Drives Workforce. Tune in to join the fight for process reform, advanced manufacturing adoption, and the future of maritime readiness.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Ep 09 - "Community Colleges on Ship Repair" with Todd Estes, Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC)

    In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, host John sits down with Todd Estes, Vice President of Workforce Development and Innovation at Virginia Peninsula Community College. As a member of the Community College Workforce Cooperative (CCWC), Todd breaks down exactly where the next generation of our maritime workforce is coming from and how regional institutions are providing a nearly debt-free pipeline straight to the deck plates.  The conversation covers the Marine Trades Training program, an accelerated curriculum designed to quickly upskill entry-level talent across seven different trades in just two to three weeks. Todd also discusses the recent physical expansions of community college facilities—including a new 16,000-square-foot trades center—to meet skyrocketing student demand, debunking the misconception that Hampton Roads must import talent from elsewhere. The discussion highlights how the CCWC provides a single door for employers to engage with the community college system without redundancy or repeated meetings.  Additionally, Todd dives into the importance of elevating the trades, challenging the narrow definition of success that pushes all young people toward traditional university pathways when maritime careers offer incredibly rewarding opportunities. Finally, the discussion turns to the tangible impact of these partnerships, which have successfully trained over 4,000 maritime professionals locally since 2017.  Key Takeaways: How the community college system provides a nearly debt-free pipeline straight into the maritime trades. The efficiency of the Marine Trades Training program in upskilling entry-level workers in just 80 to 120 hours. The benefit of the CCWC's "one door" approach for industry employers to engage with multiple colleges—like Virginia Peninsula, Tidewater, and Paul D. Camp—at once. Why the demand signal from local students is at an all-time high, creating waitlists and prompting major regional facility expansions. The vital importance of changing the narrative around trades and recognizing the complex, highly skilled nature of maritime professionals. This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  2. Aug 10

    Ep 08 - "Homeporting Norfolk and Funding the Fleet" with Congressman Rob Wittman

    In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, host John Polowczyk sits down with one of Washington's most powerful voices on naval readiness, Congressman Rob Wittman, representing Virginia's first district. As the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, Congressman Wittman breaks down the critical importance of the maritime industrial base and why prioritizing ship repair is the true key to sustaining the fleet.  The conversation covers the urgent need to homeport more ships in Norfolk to arrest the decline in workload. Congressman Wittman also discusses the transition away from 1v1v1 contracts toward multi-ship bundling for maintenance to send a stronger demand signal to private industry. The discussion highlights how AI tools like Ship OS by Palantir can modernize Navy maintenance, making the process more data-driven and predictable.  Additionally, Congressman Wittman dives into the realities of defense funding, explaining the impacts of Continuing Resolutions (CR), the $60 billion supplemental, and the push for a $1.15 trillion House NDAA target to adequately fund depot maintenance and prevent shortfalls. Finally, the discussion turns to the future of the maritime workforce, emphasizing the "Three E's" for school systems: Enlistment, Enrollment, and Employment.  Key Takeaways: Why homeporting newly commissioned DDGs in Norfolk is a straightforward solution to support the Hampton Roads area. The necessity of multi-ship maintenance contracting to allow repair yards to invest and secure supplies. How new technologies and data collection can predict maintenance needs and keep availabilities on schedule and budget. The tension between deploying the fleet and fully funding depot maintenance, and the risk of not having enough money to reset the force. The vital role of defense budgets and legislative action in expanding fleet capacity and rebuilding the industrial base. This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  3. Aug 3

    Ep 07 - "Pulling Maintenance Left" with Rear Admiral Dianna Wolfson, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

    In Episode 07 of Ship Repair Radio, host John sits down with Rear Admiral Diana Wolfson, the Director of Fleet Maintenance for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. With a trailblazing background as the first woman to lead an American naval shipyard—serving as the commander of both the Puget Sound and Norfolk Naval Shipyards—Admiral Wolfson brings an unmatched, hands-on perspective to fleet readiness.  The conversation tackles the current hurdles in ship repair, the Navy's foundational shift in how it views maintenance, and the critical need for funding stability so the industry can plan and invest.  Key Topics Discussed: The Shifting Paradigm: Historically, the surface fleet operated on a one-third model, with a third of ships in heavy maintenance, a third in sustainment, and a third deployed. Due to recent operational demands, that middle third has shifted toward deployment, putting immense pressure on the yards to get ships out of maintenance on time. The Maintenance Continuum: Admiral Wolfson emphasizes the strategy of "pulling maintenance left". She suggests striking the word "availability" from our vocabulary, noting that ships should always be undergoing maintenance. The "-ilities" of Success: The industry relies on stability, predictability, and repeatability to maintain proficiency and keep a stable workforce. Leveraging Technology: The Navy is utilizing new technology like the Augmented Reality Maintenance System (ARMS), which has deployed VR goggles on 25 surface ships to help sailors fix gear at sea, successfully cutting system downtime by 25%. The fleet is also employing robotics for thickness readings and high-fidelity imaging systems (like ISIS) for early tank inspections to buy down work packages and eliminate unplanned work. Restructuring with PAIO: The evolving Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Industrial Operations (PAIO) aims to bring a single accountable office and speed of decision-making to depot maintenance. A major goal is harmonizing Organizational (O), Intermediate (I), and Depot (D) level maintenance, balancing the scales after discovering that 15% of current depot work originally belonged at the intermediate level. Join the Conversation! Ship Repair Radio is dedicated to addressing the true operational hurdles on the Virginia waterfront, and we want to hear directly from the people doing the work. Share Your Feedback: What hurdles are you seeing on the waterfront? Send your questions, feedback, and future topic ideas to radio@virginiashiprepair.org.Subscribe: Be sure to hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  4. Jul 27

    Ep 06 - "Data, Technology, and People" with Mark Whitney, Virginia Digital Maritime Center (VDMC)

    In Episode 06 of Ship Repair Radio, VSRA President John Polowczyk sits down with Mark Whitney, Executive Director of the Virginia Digital Maritime Center (VDMC). With decades of executive leadership spanning the U.S. Navy, private industry at BAE Systems, and regional workforce development, Mark offers a comprehensive look into why the ship repair industry is struggling to adopt new technology. The conversation explores the urgent need to integrate digital advancements, address systemic process friction, and shift the industry's focus toward long-term efficiency.  Key Topics Discussed: The Technology Gap: Why the ship repair industry lags in modernization and how an unpredictable, short-term workload environment prevents companies from investing in essential technological upgrades. Shipbuilding vs. Ship Repair: The unique logistical challenges of repair work, where mechanics must bring tools and materials deep into a vessel's spaces, unlike shipbuilding where the work flows past the employee on an assembly line. Process Friction: How delays from checkpoints, missing materials, and poor data management actively waste the industry's two most valuable resources: people and time. Data, Technology, and People: VDMC’s strategic approach to making mechanics more effective and safe through targeted applied research, cooperative robots (cobots), and 3D laser ablation. The Workload vs. Workforce Reality: Unpacking why the region's workforce struggles are deeply tied to how the Navy allocates its ship repair workload, and why shared risk is necessary to build a resilient industrial base. Join the Conversation! Ship Repair Radio is dedicated to addressing the true operational hurdles on the Virginia waterfront, and we want to hear directly from the people doing the work. Share Your Feedback: What hurdles are you seeing on the waterfront? Send your questions, feedback, and future topic ideas to radio@virginiashiprepair.org.Subscribe: Be sure to hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  5. Jul 20

    Ep 05 - "The Workload Problem" with Kevin Terry, Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA)

    In Episode 05 of Ship Repair Radio, host John sits down with Kevin Terry, Senior Defense Advisor for the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), to tackle the most pressing challenges facing the ship repair industry today. With 40 years of experience supporting Navy ship material readiness, including his time as General Manager of General Dynamics NASSCO Norfolk and Commanding Officer at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Kevin brings unparalleled insight into the realities of fleet readiness.  Is the industry facing a workforce shortage, or a workload crisis? Kevin breaks down why unpredictable workloads and inadequate budgets for non-nuclear surface ships are the true hurdles to maintaining the fleet. The conversation dives deep into the necessity of financial transparency, everyday operational hurdles at the yards, and the impact of the proposed Ships for America Act.  In this episode, we cover: Workload vs. Workforce: Why America's 80+ repair yards have ample capacity and personnel, but lack consistent, predictable demand from the Navy. Operational Roadblocks: The ongoing challenges with delayed government-furnished material and the slow turnaround times for change management requests. Financial Transparency: SCA’s legislative push to clearly earmark and track O&M budgets in the FY27 NDAA. The Ships for America Act: How this bipartisan legislation could potentially mandate U.S. yard repairs for commercial ships operating under the Maritime Security Program. Maximizing Drydock Capacity: The industry-wide push for shorter, more frequent repair availabilities—such as the new six-year intervals for DDGs—to keep ships at sea and out of the dock. Tune in for an honest, hard-hitting discussion on what it will truly take to support a 355-ship Navy and secure our national defense.  This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  6. Jul 13

    Ep 04 - "The Workforce Generation Machine" with Shawn Avery, Hampton Roads Workforce Council (HRWC)

    In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, VSRA President John Polowczyk sits down with Shawn Avery, President of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. They tackle a persistent but outdated narrative: the supposed lack of a maritime workforce in Hampton Roads. Shawn details the massive, coordinated "workforce generation machine" actively supplying talent to both the shipbuilding and ship repair industries across the region.  Key Topics Discussed: Busting the Workforce Myth: Hampton Roads is currently training 6,000 maritime workers. There are plans to scale to 10,000 individuals as new training centers come online. The Hampton Roads Maritime Training System: There is an unprecedented collaboration of about 35 educational partners. This network ranges from K-12 technical centers up to community colleges to build regional training capacity. Historic Investment & ROI: The initiative started with an initial $99,000 grant. It is now approaching over $100 million in strategic investments to fund new labs, training programs, and marketing. Matching Supply with Demand: The council moved beyond baseline labor market data. They dedicated full-time staff to align industry demand flows directly with educational outputs. Incumbent Worker Training & Apprenticeships: Funding is available to upskill current employees to retain talent and help them grow into supervisory roles. This also helps open up entry-level opportunities below them. Join the Conversation! Ship Repair Radio is dedicated to addressing the true operational hurdles on the Virginia waterfront, and we want to hear directly from the people doing the work. Share Your Feedback: What hurdles are you seeing on the waterfront? Send your questions, feedback, and future topic ideas to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. Subscribe: Be sure to hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  7. Jul 6

    Ep 03 - "Mindset at Norfolk Naval" with RDML Kavon Hakimzadeh

    In this podcast episode of Ship Repair Radio, VSRA President John sits down with Rear Admiral Kayvon Hakimzadeh (commonly known as "Admiral Hak"), Commander of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Bringing his perspective as a former Naval aviator, Admiral Hak discusses his observations after his first year in command, highlighting both the exceptional responsiveness of government flyaway teams and the systemic frictions that often slow down industrial operations.   Key Topics Discussed: - Retaining Top Talent: The critical need to restructure pay scales so master mechanics and machinists can advance financially while staying on their tools, rather than being forced into supervisory roles.   - Shifting the MRO Model: Moving away from long-cycle shipbuilding behaviors toward shorter, more intense maintenance availabilities to conserve valuable drydock and pier space.   - Streamlining Bureaucracy: Pushing technical and contracting authority down to lower levels to rapidly address unplanned work and speed up the supply chain.   - Partnering with Private Industry: Leveraging the recently awarded Submarine MAC and existing IDIQ contracts to standardize outsourced resource days, bringing much-needed stability and predictability to private shipyard partners.   Tune in to hear how Norfolk Naval Shipyard is hiring, growing, and working alongside the private sector to meet the Navy's historic demand for operational ships. This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  8. Jul 4

    Ep 02 - "Ship Repair in Your 20's" with Jahlani Williams, East Coast Repair

    In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, VSRA President John Paul sits down with Jahlani Williams, the 2024 VSRA Junior Tradesperson of the Year and current Sheet Metal Lead at East Coast Repair and Fabrication. Jahlani shares his inspiring journey from navigating unfulfilling jobs after college to discovering a rewarding, long-term career in the maritime industry.  Listeners will get an inside look at the daily realities of shipyard life, the profound impact of habitability work on sailors, and why the skilled trades offer an unparalleled path for professional growth and entrepreneurship.  Key Takeaways: How a chance trip to a Tidewater Community College job fair kickstarted Jelani's maritime apprenticeship. The realities of balancing technical classroom education with hands-on deckplate work at Técnico. Shattering the myth of the "skilled trades ceiling" and uncovering the real potential for advancement, leadership, and business ownership. The personal fulfillment of building and outfitting ship spaces to directly improve the quality of life for sailors. Actionable advice for high school students considering the trades, including the immense value of taking woodshop and drafting classes. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Ship Repair Radio on your favorite podcast platform. Send us your thoughts and interact with the show by emailing radio@virginiashiprepair.org. This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  9. Jul 4

    Ep 01 - "Workload vs Workforce" with Jordan Webb, Colonna's Shipyard

    In the inaugural episode of Ship Repair Radio, the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, we tackle one of the most critical debates currently facing the waterfront: workload versus workforce. While the prevailing narrative often centers on a workforce shortage, we flip the script to examine why a volatile, unpredictable, and declining workload is the real issue impacting modern shipyards. Our featured guest is Jordan Webb, President and General Manager of Colonna's Shipyard. With 20 years of waterfront experience stretching from the deckplates up through project management to executive leadership, Jordan brings an essential, firsthand perspective on what it takes to maintain a stable, skilled workforce in a fluctuating procurement environment. Key Topics Covered: The "Workforce Shortage" Reality: Why recruiting isn't the primary bottleneck, highlighted by a single yard receiving 4,100 applicants and identifying 900 qualified candidates in under six months.The Whiplash of Fluctuating Workloads: How unpredictable schedules create extreme staffing challenges, forcing a 250-person yard to navigate 60-to-80 person capacity swings within mere weeks.The Cost of Idle Capacity: An inside look at the steep financial realities of maintaining infrastructure, where a yard spends $5 million annually on baseline drydock maintenance regardless of actual customer utilization.Commercial vs. Navy Dynamics: A comparison of operational agility, detailing how commercial partnerships leverage trust to clear change orders in minutes, while government modifications can take up to 30 days.Strategic Solutions for Stability: Exploring how contract bundling and tying shipyards to specific ship classes can dramatically improve long-term planning, workforce retention, and overall efficiency.Join the Conversation! Ship Repair Radio is dedicated to addressing the true operational hurdles on the Virginia waterfront, and we want to hear directly from the people doing the work. Share Your Feedback: What hurdles are you seeing on the waterfront? Send your questions, feedback, and future topic ideas to radio@virginiashiprepair.org.Subscribe: Be sure to hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode tackling the critical issues of the maritime industry.This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

  10. Trailer

    Ep 00 - John Polowczyk

    Welcome to Episode 000 of Ship Repair Radio, the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association! Hosted by VSRA President John Polowczyk, this introductory episode sets the stage for the vital conversations ahead. Make us your go-to station and tune in every Monday morning for a weekly update on everything happening in the ship repair industry. We will be diving deep into the critical issues facing our members, including: Workload and Workforce: Navigating workload decline and addressing essential workforce challenges.Maritime Investment: Discussing the crucial investments required to rebuild our maritime capabilities and Navy.Maintenance Processes: Exploring the strategies and processes needed to get ships in and out of maintenance on time.Expect engaging, conversational, one-on-one interviews featuring a wide range of voices. Our upcoming guests will include industry leaders, Navy officials, congressional representatives, subject matter experts, and most importantly, the deck plate tradesmen who are experiencing these maintenance issues firsthand. The time to rebuild is now. You are invited to be a part of the conversation! Send your comments, thoughts, and questions to Radio@VirginiaShipRepair.org. Ship Repair Radio: The strength behind the fleet. This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.  Connect With Us: Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!) Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepairHosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Ship Repair Radio, the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association. This show dives into the realities of keeping the Navy ready and the everyday friction on the waterfront. Virginia ship repair is a strategic national asset, and maintaining our strategic advantage requires a wartime mindset and a change in how we do business. In each episode, we bring together voices from across our 320+ member companies, defense industry leaders, and maritime influencers to discuss the real bottlenecks in the yard. We focus on eliminating bureaucratic friction, enabling LMA-AIT integration, and championing the skilled tradesmen and women who serve as the backbone of our national security. Because at the end of the day, a predictable, stable workload is the primary driver of our industry's health: Workload Drives Workforce. Tune in to join the fight for process reform, advanced manufacturing adoption, and the future of maritime readiness.

Information

  • Creator
    Virginia Ship Repair Association
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Virginia Ship Repair