THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 24, 1995 TAG: 9510240287
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Bill Fricks, who will become the top executive at Newport News Shipbuilding on Nov. 1, shook up the yard's management Monday.
It's the second executive reorganization at Newport News Shipbuilding in 13 months. Fricks announced the changes in a letter to yard employees Monday. Fricks, now president, will succeed yard chairman Pat Phillips as chief executive when he retires.
The reorganization highlights one place the shipyard hopes to generate new revenues by naming Jim Palmer vice president of commercial nuclear and president of yard subsidiary Newport News Industrial Corp.
The shipyard hopes to use its experience in dealing with Navy nuclear reactors to develop opportunities for power plant construction and reactor maintenance with the Department of Energy and commercial power companies.
``The changes I announced today will help focus and develop our capabilities, but, in themselves, they will not address all the challenges we face,'' Fricks wrote in a personal tone that was a departure from past executive letters at the yard.
``Frankly, I see extremely tough challenges in the 21st century global marketplace,'' he wrote. ``Be assured that I will do everything I can to make Newport News the most capable, competitive shipyard in the world.''
The shakeup consolidates two yard divisions, construction and engineering, under Tom Schievelbein, who becomes executive vice president for operations. Reporting to Schievelbein will be George Wade, newly appointed vice president of submarines and refueling, and Bob Hoard, newly appointed vice president of trades, manufacturing and facilities.
Palmer had been in charge of the engineering group and Wade had overseen the construction group.
In other new appointments Jim Shephard was named vice president of strategy and process innovation and Mike Hatfield was named vice president of communications. Both will report to Fricks.
The marketing, legal, finance and human resource units remained unchanged by Fricks' moves. by CNB