Photo By Shelby West | Welding Shop’s Nuclear Welding Supervisor Zachary Nelson came to work for Norfolk...... read more read more
A leader is only as good as its team--Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Welding Shop’s Nuclear Welding Supervisor Zachary Nelson put this belief into practice when he took it upon himself to train team members on the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) to perform recent maintenance down at Naval Submarine Base—Kings Bay.
Although he grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, Nelson is just as familiar with Virginia as he spent summers with his grandparents at the beach. His grandfather used to work at a yacht repair center near NNSY and was familiar with the shipyard’s apprenticeship program. Before graduating from Hillsboro High School, Nelson applied to the program. “I gained entrance into a couple of colleges, but I figured I could meet my financial goals here if I worked my way up,” he said. “I also didn’t want to be in debt from college.” A few months after moving to Virginia, he was admitted to the program and became an apprentice in 2011. Having grown up off-roading and knowing how to weld on trucks, he pursued welding, working his way up to a supervisor position in Code 926.
Performing the recent maintenance on Georgia included various mock-up and training products that Nelson developed to train his fellow welders on specific techniques, working side-by-side with them and demonstrating what to do. “If I asked someone to do something,” he said, “I was right there with them, but also let them lead with what they were doing.”
Nelson and his team also had to work within COVID-19 protective measures. “We had to heed questionnaire screenings similar to the ones here at NNSY to get back on base,” he explained. “We did what we could to protect each other, such as wearing masks and gloves.”
Despite the obstacles, Nelson and his team worked with pinpoint accuracy, and accomplished the job ahead of schedule. The maintenance was expected to potentially take months to complete, but was finished within a week and a half.
Nelson credits his ability to lead others to his own mentors at NNSY, such as Code 926 Supervisor Chad Baum and Zone Manager Ken Little. “They are not just bosses, but more like older brothers to me,” he said fondly. “They don’t just tell you what to do, they are right there with you and they show you what to do.”
He also wanted to give credit to Curtis O’Neil, the fellow welder who was at his side the most during the work on Georgia. “He was my backup,” Nelson explained. “If I needed something, he was right there. He deserves as much credit as I do, along with the other welders.”
Nelson received recognition and praise for his accomplishment on the Georgia from his leadership. “Mr. Nelson faces every challenge that comes his way with energy, enthusiasm and a desire to plan for success,” said Code 926 Welding Superintendent Chris Comar. “As a highly-skilled welder and more recently as a Nuclear Welding Supervisor, Zach has prioritized mission over personal life numerous times to support the demands of the job. His selflessness and commitment to being part of a successful team makes him a pleasure to work with, and his overwhelming competence and knowledge make him integral to the team’s success.” Code 926 Nuclear Director Matt Melvin Myers agreed and added, “The training and execution of the maintenance was a big team win for the Code 926 and NNSY.”
Nelson’s leadership skills and his team’s hard work have set a precedent of teamwork that represents the excellence that NNSY strives for. As Program Manager Commissioned Submarines (NAVSEA 08) William Knoll said, “This success shows what we all know NNSY is capable of on a grander scale.”
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2020 16:09 |
| Story ID: | 371915 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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