Photo By Carter Denton | 190505-N-EX228-2006 NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (May 8, 2019) Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class...... read more read more
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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - (April 29, 2019) – The job of any Sailor aboard a United States ship is constantly evolving to accommodate and accomplish the mission of the ship. This continues to apply even when the ship no longer has water under her hull. As a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier undergoing refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipyard, the mission of USS George Washington (CVN 73) is the ship’s timely redelivery to the fleet in support and defense of the United States.
Electrician’s Mates (EM) aboard George Washington continue to support the ship’s mission every day during the RCOH process.
“The EM’s job in the yard is really broad,” said Chief Electrician’s Mate Leodolpho Romera II, a chief petty officer in George Washington’s electrical division, from Mendez, Cavite, Philippines. “Basically everything that you touch that’s powered by electricity is being maintained by electricians. We keep the lights on.”
Managing the electrical components of an aircraft carrier is a responsibility that has many facets.
“We handle electrical distribution and take care of the load centers, which are the hubs that distribute the electrical power coming from the generators, along with things like power panels, fuse boxes, overhead lighting, and outlets,” said Romera.
With so many areas of responsibility, it can be overwhelming for new EMs coming to the RCOH process.
“My advice for any new EMs is whenever you get here to be ready to learn quick,” said Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Brian Fingers, a Sailor in George Washington’s electrical division from Fredericktown, Missouri. “If you see somebody leave the shop with a tool bag, follow them. That’s the only way you’re [going to] learn your rate.”
With so many electrical components and electrical loads, it’s important to maintain a safe working environment. That’s where safety electricians come in.
“As safety electricians, we help to ensure that dead-ended cables are de-energized, and as a member of the safety department, we just make sure that everyone is being safe in general,” said Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Ronald Rose, a safety electrician assigned to George Washington’s safety department, from Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
Working in a shipyard environment, George Washington’s safety electricians face some unique challenges.
“The difference I’ve noticed with being in the shipyards is the number of different safety discrepancies that come up that aren’t normally around when you’re operational, such as dead-end wires or holes in the deck,” said Rose.
Problem-solving is an important aspect of being successful in an environment such as the shipyards. Some Sailors enjoy developing this skill.
“My favorite part of the job is just being able to work with my hands,” said Fingers. “Having a problem and being able to brainstorm and find the solution is really satisfying.”
Along with the individual effort of Sailors like Fingers, the George Washington electrical division relies on a team effort to accomplish the division’s tasks.
“My favorite part of the job is just being here working with the Sailors,” said Romera. “No one can do the job alone, so we have to work as a team and stay on the same page.”
The RCOH process brings new obstacles for every team of Sailors, but also more opportunities to excel.
“It comes with many challenges, but that’s where the fun part is,” said Romera. “The more we are challenged, the more we can show that we’re up to the challenge and support the mission of the ship.”
Through their work on maintaining and refurbishing the electrical systems on the ship, the electrical division is one of many teams on board George Washington that is working towards the goal of redelivering the premier and always-ready aircraft carrier to active service. The RCOH process would not be possible without the efforts of Sailors like those in the electrical division.
Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW and www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73. For more news from USS George Washington, visit www. Navy.mil/local/cvn73/.
-GW-
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2019 07:00 |
| Story ID: | 322618 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Electrician’s Mates: How They Support a Shipyard Period, by Carter Denton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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