Navy League Honors Bath Iron Works' Shipway With Nimitz Award

By Amy L. Wittman, Editor in Chief

Retired Rear Adm. John F. "Dugan" Shipway is congratulated by Navy League National President J. Michael McGrath after being presented with the 2009 Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz Award during the Sea-Air-Space Exposition dinner May 5. Shipway retired March 31 as president of General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, and was recognized for his technical and program management skills. Prior to joining Bath Iron Works, Shipway served 35 years in the U.S. Navy.

The Navy League of the United States presented its 2009 Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz award for exemplary leadership in the maritime defense industry to former General Dynamics executive and retired Navy Rear Adm. John F. “Dugan” Shipway at the Sea-Air-Space Exposition dinner May 5.

Assisting Navy League National President J. Michael McGrath in presenting the award was the evening's keynote speaker, Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations.

“Dugan Shipway is a name that has become synonymous with leadership and excellence in the shipbuilding industry,” McGrath said.

“I was going to give Dugan the compliment of 'a shipbuilder's shipbuilder,” Roughead said. “But I would like to just raise it up another notch, and [say] Dugan, you are a ship driver's shipbuilder because of all you do, the passion you have injected into your work and, most importantly, the passion that you have injected into your work force.

The CNO said Shipway has “given our Navy and our nation the tools that we need to go forth and do the work of our nation.”

Shipway, recognized for his unparalleled technical and program management skills, retired March 31 as president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath,Maine, after six years.

During his tenure, Shipway led the company through a difficult time when cost and productivity challenges threatened its long-term viability. He spearheaded astute management reforms that resulted in eliminating more than 1.5 million labor hours from the cost of building an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer at Bath Iron Works and improving labor relations. He is credited with reinventing Bath Iron Works into a lean, efficient shipyard.

“I really am honored and humbled to accept this award,” Shipway said. “My wife, Lynn, and I have been coming to these dinners for about 20 years. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be standing here on this platform tonight.”

Shipway credited his success to influences prior to and after his military career. He noted that a part-time guidance counselor in high school encouraged him to apply for the Navy Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.

“Each of us here tonight can influence in some way what is happening in public schools around us, either at our alma maters or where we live now,” he said. “I urge each of you to do something to encourage a school and its students to reach for greater things, to dream bigger dreams.”

After his Navy career, Shipway said three people served as his mentors in industry – last year's Nimitz award winner and former General Dynamics Electric Boat president and executive vice president of General Dynamics Marine Systems, Michael W. Toner; Bath Iron Works President John P. Casey; and Frederick J. Harris, president of General Dynamics' NASSCO. “These three people, and the folks that work with them, prepared me for the greatest job of my career,” Shipway said.

Prior to joining Bath Iron Works, Shipway retired from the Navy after serving 35 years and last served as director of Strategic Systems Programs. As a submarine officer, he served on board diesel, nuclear attack, ballistic missile and research submarines.

During his military career, he was responsible for several submarine and weapons programs
including the Los Angeles- and Seawolf-class attack submarine programs.

The Navy League’s Nimitz award is named after Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, whose qualities of leadership, statesmanship and dedication, exemplify his commitment to the need for a strong maritime defense supported by American industry.