2007 Model of Excellence Award Winners

"Each year, we present President's Model of Excellence awards to a select group of employees for their extraordinary performance and outstanding contributions in the areas of innovation and technology, customer satisfaction and operational excellence. This year, I am proud to announce that 50 teams compromising more than 800 employees have been nominated. They are the employees their colleagues and supervisors have acknowledged for doing exemplary work in 2006, and they all deserve our thanks and congratulations" - Mike Petters, President - Northrop Grumman Newport News

Propulsor Bearing Change Out Team

Front row, from left: Jerry Snow, David Bucholz, Daniel Fiore, Charles Williamson, Tom Arnold Back row: Calvin Atkins, Mack Lassiter III, William Dunbar, Matthew Fischer, Johnathan Dubovsky Not pictured: Aziz Winborne

This team removed and replaced the propulsion bearing on USS North Carolina without removing the propulsion shaft – a first for the Virginia class of submarines. The team’s work was done with no impact to construction schedule, and the lessons learned will allow General Dynamics Electric Boat to do the same job on USS Texas during its post-shakedown availability (PSA).

Tango Bravo External Weapons Team

Front row, from left: Gary Wagner, Dave Gooding, Lisa Maddrey, Bob Hartman Back row: Matt Goss, Robert Laychak, Dave Sparrer Not pictured: Kirk Boswell, John Hawksworth, Chris Lowe, Doug Taylor

This team conceived, designed, built and successfully tested a full-scale external torpedo launch technology demonstrator for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) within a 14-month period. The team’s work led to a $15 million Phase 2 contract and demonstrates to the U.S. Navy that Newport News remains an important asset in the submarine design arena.

Virginia-Class Submarine Block 2 Material Cost Reduction Effort and Fee Incentive Team

Front row, from left: Linda Johnson, Shelley Armstrong, Henry Stone, Sandra Armstrong, Michael Cross Back row: John Rice, Robert McCadden, Teddy Kimbrough, Neal Winall, Edmund MacDonald, Paul Northey Not pictured: Bryan Caccavale, Darnell Exum, Kathleen Jones

This team worked with the U.S. Navy to execute the Virginia-Class Submarine contract for long range materials purchase planning. This partnering effort resulted in significant cost reductions to the Navy and helped to stabilize the submarine vendor base.

VCS Test Fitting Facility Team

Front row, from left: Lee Robison, Samuel Nichols, Douglas Carter, Deborah Jordan, Carol Harden, Mary Kay Benjamin Back row: Bruce Hogge, Howard Phipps, Larry Hargrave, Willie Campbell, Pat Turpin, Samuel Fields

This team implemented 5S+ principles (“Sort, Straighten, Shine, Systemize and Sustain”) to continuously reduce the time and resources required to provide trades workers with test equipment and material for construction. The team’s efforts have resulted in cost savings of $1.1 million for the Virginia-Class Submarine (VSC) Program.