Photo By Daniel DeAngelis | Jeffrey Shaffer is Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Support Office (Code 1500)...... read more read more
During the supply chain and warehouse shortages that the United States is experiencing, it makes it difficult to purchase a new car, kitchen appliances, camera gear and other many more items to mention. But it’s not just outside Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) gates where these shortages are happening, they are also happening inside the gates as well and have the potential to impact shipyard availabilities. At America’s Shipyard, an individual is working hard to ensure that does not happen.
“When a Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) project, regardless of which shipyard, exhausts all resources to find the material it needs to complete the work, I start looking outside the gates for a solution,” said Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Support Office (Code 1500) Director of Nuclear Maritime Maintenance Operations Center Jeffrey Shaffer. “This is where I need to get creative and work with outside agencies like Naval Systems Engineering & Logistics (NAVSEA 05), Naval Supply Command (NAVSUP) and Defense Logistics Agency.”
Shaffer continued, “We always identify a solution. The solution we like most is finding the material we need and getting it to the project in a timely manner. There are solutions that are undesirable, but when all other options have failed or are exhausted, we would cannibalize from another project or defer the work. But regardless, we always identify a solution. We continue to develop our processes with the goal to deliver better solutions in the future.”
Shaffer has been working in his current position for about a year. His job was identified and created to support the NAVSEA Transformation Office, which in turn, supports the Materials Pillar of the Naval Sustainment System—Shipyards (NSS-SY) goal. NSS-SY is a holistic plan to improve on-time delivery of Navy ships and submarines across the four public shipyards to include NNSY.
“My job is challenging because it’s under development and not fully defined and this is one of the aspects that I like about this position,” said Shaffer. “This is an opportunity where I have a vision and get to bring it to fruition.”
Although new to his current position, Shaffer isn’t new to the shipyard. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Engineering School in 1985, he began his career at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine as a Code 2320 Nuclear Engineer. Then he was given the opportunity to join representatives from the eight naval shipyards then in existence as a subject matter expert for the Baseline Advanced Industrial Management Program.
“The goal of my assignment back then was to work with the other shipyards to shift from guild shop style management to project management. Working together as a team, we had to define all processes.”
Once this task had been completed, Shaffer and his family decided to make NNSY his permanent station, having enjoyed the Tidewater area. After working with business process re-engineering, he wanted to do something different. Desiring something that would challenge himself and help grow in his career, he got into working with managing software development for shipyard business systems.
“I helped develop and manage some of the applications that are still used today like Advanced Industrial Management – Next Generation and Material Access Technology Mission Funding,” said Shaffer.
Shaffer worked his way up to the deputy director of the NAVSEA Support Office (Code 1500) at NNSY. After holding the position for six years, he was ready for a new challenge. He had thought about retirement until he learned about his current position becoming available. Since accepting the position he has had several wins, although Shaffer deflects credit to others.
“This past year we successfully navigated an iteration of Virginia-class material sprint,” said Shafter. “My work doesn’t own a solution. No, our wins, the solutions, are done by other agencies. My team and I are just a catalyst that provides focus and an escalation path that keeps the ball rolling until a solution is identified.”
Shaffer isn’t sure where this current career path will lead him to. He said, "I know, even when I retire, that I helped make a difference through my 37 plus years of civil service, not only to make NNSY better, but all four shipyards as a whole."
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2022 07:56 |
| Story ID: | 429449 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 203 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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