Navy Intends to Ramp Up Shipbuilding Through Collaborative Efforts

By David Vergun, Department of Defense

img credit: U.S. Navy - The George Washington Carrier Strike Group

“U.S. shipbuilders continue to produce the highest quality, safest, and most advanced warships on the planet,”

Said by Brett A. Seidle, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition, who testified today at a House Armed Services Committee's sea power and projection forces subcommittee hearing on the state of U.S. shipbuilding.

“We have the finest Navy ever assembled in the history of the world. They're coming to a theater near you, bringing their A game." Seidle said.

However, at a time when adversaries around the globe challenge the maritime commons, the U.S. shipbuilding industry is challenged to produce the quantity of ships at the rate required, he said.

Cost and schedule performance remain challenging, with deliveries approximately 1 to 3 years late and costs rising faster than overall inflation.

These issues are prevalent across the nuclear and conventional shipbuilding communities with both the Navy and industry sharing responsibility, Seidle said.

Some things brought this about, he said, including reduced competition and capacity at tier-one shipyards.

Additionally, suppliers have experienced atrophy of the manufacturing sector, shifting Navy requirements, burdensome acquisition processes, depressed investment, workforce shortages, diminished proficiency, supply chain disruptions, historic underinvestment, and industry consolidation following the end of the Cold War.

"I was not raised in the shipbuilding environment and therefore am not saddled with preconceived notions of 'this is how we've always done it.' I certainly welcome informed perspectives from those who are passionate about strengthening our fleet," Seidle said.

He believes these collective challenges can be overcome, he said.

"This committee has my passionate commitment to collaborate with Congress, industry, academia, training organizations, trade associations, as well as all levels of government in pursuit of improved cost and schedule performance," Seidle testified.

"Our nation and the world need the strength of our Navy, and my intent is do everything in my power to deliver on that promise," he said.

Our Note

Before WWII, our military was NOT what it should have been - it was almost literally in shambles, and enrollments were low.

Once Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, that was all spun on its head.

As noted in The Art of War, if you must go to war, it is the morale of the men that is more important than the state of the military.

And when we are attacked, nothing rises faster than American exceptionalism.

Those who have never tasted freedom and our Liberties will call it pride; then so be it - either way, our exceptionalism rises to the top and takes precedence until the war is won.

In today’s environment, we can no longer wait for an attack for our exceptionalism to rise like a phoenix.

Technological advantage, superior military training, and astute military leadership are all a MUST and we did NOT have that under Clinton, Obama, nor Biden.

Not by a long shot.

Politics belongs with politicians; politically correctness and DEI belong with Democrat daydreamers - NOT on the battlefield, not in the military.

There is a sense of urgency at EVERY level of life right now as the future of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren is entirely dependent upon what foundation we lay in the next 4, 8, 12 years, or more.

The Democrat party is set to implode and possibly never recover - that’s their fault.

Up until Janaury 20th, 2025, our country was set to implode and possibly never recover - that would’ve been our fault.

This is a battle that will be for years - and our relationship with one another as well as with God will determine just how victorious this battle will be.