THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270532
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 80 lines
Typically suppliers entertain their customers. But late Wednesday at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, the customer put on quite a show for its suppliers.
More than 1,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel staged a mock beach front assault for about 100 executives from the Navy's top contractors.
Executives from such companies as Lockheed Martin Corp., Raytheon Co. and Lucent Technologies were in Norfolk for the 2nd annual Navy/CEO conference. The Navy wants to assemble defense contractors to discuss shared problems and acquisition reform.
The three-day confab at the Waterside Marriott Hotel's conference center was hosted by John Douglass, the Navy's undersecretary for research, development and acquisition. Speakers included Navy Secretary John H. Dalton and Marine Commandant Gen. Charles C. Krulak.
The meetings were not open to the public and the conference kept a low profile until the Navy and Marines stormed ashore.
``We listen to these industry people and take away from these meetings action items,'' Douglass said.
``The main objective is to see what we can do together, as a government-industry team, to refine the acquisition process,'' said Gary F. Rast, vice president of government business development for Sikorsky Aircraft, a Connecticut-based helicopter manufacturer.
``This is a great opportunity for the customer and the contractors to get together and really put some issues on the table,'' said Allan Cameron, president and chief executive of Bath Iron Works in Maine, which builds destroyers for the Navy.
After a day of serious talk, the afternoon beach show was simple and fun. The executives and assorted Navy and Marine Corps officers sat in bleachers at a dune line facing the Chesapeake Bay.
The show began as a CH-46 Sea Knight transport helicopter flew in low over the water about 50 meters from the beach. With its wheels nearly skimming the water, four Navy Seals pushed an inflatable raft out of the rear cargo door and then jumped into the water.
The four Seals soon came ashore for a beach reconnaissance, effectively dislodging several hundred sea gulls from their defensive positions.
With the beach seemingly secure, the commander aboard the amphibious landing ship Ashland just off shore ordered the beach assault. Super Cobra attack helicopters thundered overhead swinging their Gatling guns about and escorting more Sea Knights, presumably to drop off Marines at an inland landing zone.
Then four LCACs, or landing craft air cushioned, began buzzing their way straight toward the executives from about a two kilometers off the beach. Capable of flitting along at nearly 50 knots, these craft roared up onto the beach, blowing sand and mist in the direction of the well-dressed, well-pressed execs.
Coming to a rest about 100 meters from the bleachers, the LCACS settled on to the beach, each disgorging an armed HUMVEE and a Light Armored Vehicle. Marines poured out of each vehicle, rapidly erecting signs explaining each one's armaments and capabilities.
Then the executives were invited to go look at the equipment and talk to the sailors and Marines.
``This is an opportunity to learn from the sailors who are indeed your actual customers,'' said Rear Admiral Wirt R. Fladd, commander of Amphibious Group Two, which put on the show.
The executives welcomed it, pouring down the beach and milling about the vehicles and landing craft.
``This gives the industry leaders a chance to see the things they build in action,'' Douglass said.
But after the show, it was back to the Marriott for a reception and another day of seminars Thursday, where plenty of maneuvering is expected. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
SEALS secure a beach from gulls and corporate dignitaries so that
the Ashland could offload LCACs, HUMVEES and Marines - all under a
canopy of Super Cobra attack copters and Sea Knights.
BILL TIERNAN PHOTOS
The Virginian-Pilot
Executives in their uniforms watched how their products work in a
mock invasion Thursday. by CNB