Meet the Mission teammate highlightsfor PSNS & IMF USS Nimitz project team

Photo By Thiep Nguyen | Nimitz project teammates (from left) Taylor Miller, Jake Knight and Andrew Goforth stand pierside in front of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) after the ship’s undocking on Dec. 5.  

UNITED STATES

01.11.2019

Story by Michele L Fletcher 

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility

Shop 11 work leader values teamwork, group accomplishments
Andrew Goforth is a Shop 71 work leader with the shafting, tank sandblasting and painting crew on the Nimitz project. He’s worked for the command for eight years, starting as a wage grade 1 helper in Shop 71, most recently on a sandblast crew working on USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Briefly describe your job
As the work leader and stand-in supervisor of the in-docking work, my duties vary from day to day, but usually consist of tracking jobs and making sure problems are mitigated as soon as possible. I coordinate with the other shops, trades and teammates on what is going on, what is needed and if anything can be improved for production. If I am not working on administrative functions, I’m on the jobsite working with my teammates. I could be running blast machines, setting up or tearing down jobs, working paint removal, painting, taking environmental readings, inspecting jobs—or many other tasks.
What do you like about your job at the command?
What I love about my job is there’s always something new to experience. This time around I got to experience both the blast and paint side of a carrier, not just blasting on carriers. I get to work with new people all the time and help them by sharing my knowledge and experience I’ve gotten over the years. When we blasted and painted tanks, our crew was mostly new. We did some of the most difficult, meticulous and critical work in our shop. Because of the experience I have, I was able to help in many instances.
What gives you a sense of pride about what you do?
On the project we strive to put out the best quality product as quickly and safely as possible. We were given many jobs with tight time frames and were able to complete their installation and support undocking on time.
Is there a job or experience that’s particularly memorable to you?
I get to work on some pretty amazing things, but what is memorable to me about this job is the people I get to work with every day. I meet new people all the time—all with different personalities, interests and beliefs. Working together as a group to accomplish the work is memorable—to be able to say we did that!

Shipfitter strives for excellence
Jake Knight is a Shop 11 work leader on the Nimitz project. He’s worked for the command for seven and a half years.
Briefly describe your job
My job as a work leader consists of preplanning, coordination of work and organization of a new workforce to accomplish the time-honored work we do and the unwavering standards we strive to maintain without compromising safety or schedule.
What do you like about your job at the command?
To see the removal, repair and re-install of a rudder for the first time. It was an amazing feat, so much effort goes into it with all of the interferences, multiple deck removals, the different trades working together, all doing their part to pull a massive piece off of a carrier. Then seeing it repaired and reinstalled gave me a profound sense of accomplishment.
What gives you a sense of pride about what you do?
The crew I’ve had the privilege of working with has impressed me at every turn. Even though they are primarily new they worked tirelessly to accomplish all of the preparation and installation of deck patches, access patches, and fairwaters. Their efforts made reinstallation smooth and precise. This ultimately enables us to deliver a exemplary product back to our Navy. Our command can be proud, and the Navy can depend on the ship for many years to come.
Is there a job or experience that’s particularly memorable to you?
My first carrier project work was on USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
I had the privilege to come back to the ship this year, and it was a good feeling to see the work that I had previously done had held up so well.
The real encouragement for me is when I’m teaching someone new one of the tricks of the trade—handed down from generation to generation—and the light comes on. They understand when they are successful and they know the work they completed made a difference.

Welder takes pride in team effort
Taylor Miller, a Shop 26 welder on the Nimitz project has worked for the command for just over six years.
Briefly describe your job
In my job on the Nimitz project I’m part of the team that welded the rudders. We accomplished the job using a mechanized welding machine. Additionally we had to hand-weld some sections. All the welding we did was achieved with first-time quality and precision.
What do you like about your job at the command?
I like being a part of a crew that gets to set new standards and try new innovative ways to improve the process for each shop and project.
What gives you a sense of pride about what you do?
My crew and the whole shafting and rudders team work really well together. We wouldn’t be able to get our important jobs done safely in record time without hard work and a cooperative team effort.
Is there a job or experience that’s particularly memorable to you?
It’s always amazing to see the end result of a project that you have been working on for months or years. The turnover we did on Nimitz definitely set a standard that
I am proud to be part of.

• Date Taken: 01.11.2019
• Date Posted: 01.15.2019 12:43
• Story ID: 306753
• Location: US