With the new Code 1100, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) gains a wealth of Navy experience and leadership.
Retired Navy Captain, Fred McKenna, became the new Code 1100 Executive Director in Dec. 2019.
McKenna was raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of North Carolina. Growing up, he could be found playing his trumpet to the recordings by his favorite band, Chicago. His childhood dream was to play in a band like Chicago, however, this dream changed as he got older.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he played club football and lettered in swimming. Upon graduation, he sought advice from his father about joining the military. As an Army veteran of World War II, his recommendation was “Go Navy.”
After he graduated from Officer Candidate School as a surface warfare officer, he reported to his first command, USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG 23). This brought McKenna to NNSY for the first time as the ship was on the blocks in Dry Dock 4. At that time, the buildings near Trophy Park were Bachelors Officers Quarters, and then Ensign McKenna was assigned a room in Bldg. 14.
“My plan was to join the Navy, see the world and after three years I would get out and go to law school,” said McKenna. “However, once I was in the service, I couldn’t find the exit door as I was having a good bit of fun. The Navy proved to be what the slogan said: 'it's not just a job, but an adventure.' I ended up making the Navy a career and served our nation for 27 years before retiring as a captain.”
McKenna served aboard six U.S. naval ships during his career. He was the commanding officer for the USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG 13), and also served on the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Strike Group staff as the Carrier Strike Group Operations Officer during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I also served at the Naval Academy, the Pentagon and various fleet headquarter staffs. What I gained from those experiences is the appreciation that the business end of fielding a fleet – the manning, equipping and maintaining of the fleet - is critical to the long term survivability of the nation. With the experience I gained, I can do my part to support the shipyard’s mission, which is returning ships and submarines back to the fleet on time and on budget.”
Over the past 11 years since his retirement, McKenna worked at Military Sealift Command (MSC) in a variety of leadership roles. He served as the Deputy Director for Government Operated Ships, where he oversaw the global type commander support of the Combat Logistics fleet and Service Support ships within the MSC fleet.
“It was in this position that I saw how commercial yards both here in the United States and in foreign countries from Croatia to Dubai toVietnam operated. It was a real eye-opener.”
As Deputy Director for Total Force Manning, he oversaw the effective operation of all matters related to ashore staffing and afloat crewing of MSC ships worldwide. As MSC’s Director of Corporate Operations, McKenna became intimately involved in budgeting and the long-term financial requirements of fielding a fleet of 125 ships.
In his new position, McKenna is responsible for the areas of Security and Fire Prevention, Emergency Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Workforce Training and Development, Public Affairs and Audiovisual, Command Visit Protocol, and all executive administrative support to the shipyard commander.
“People wonder why I am taking on such a huge shift in employment at this point of my life and career,” said McKenna. “I accomplished pretty much everything I could at Military Sealift Command and I wanted to continue to challenge myself. I felt this was the perfect opportunity to do so. Plus, I still get to serve the U.S. Navy.”
Upon arrival, McKenna quickly learned about NNSY’s C.O.R.E. (Care, Ownership, Respect, Excellence) values. He stated that this is a great credo for any kind of leader who wants to have a successful career.
“People really respond when they feel those above them care for them,” said McKenna. “Caring brings out the best in people. I feel that employers get an extra 10 percent of productivity from their employees if they feel cared for.”
Ownership was a concept that was put into perspective by McKenna’s first captain, who challenged him to take care of all his equipment and spaces as if caring for his own personal sports car, something that he put money into each payday. McKenna has followed that concept ever since.
When it comes to respect, McKenna believes that it needs to go both ways, up and down the chain of command.
“Looking people in the eye and being courteous is a great first step. Respect should go in every direction, but particularly it has to go down because you model that for other people,” said McKenna.
When McKenna was growing up, it was engrained in him that if you are going to do something, you need to give it your best and be excellent, otherwise, what’s the purpose?
“Now as I look back as an adult, I ask myself what makes me happy and feel like I did something with my life? It is those times when I pushed myself to be excellent and took on a challenge,” said McKenna. “The opportunity and ability to be excellent in your job is a gift. Excellence reflects care, ownership and respect. Everyone deserves the chance to be excellent.”
“I am excited to become part of the shipyard team,” said McKenna. “I am here to make shipyard employees successful at America’s Shipyard.”
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2020 10:25 |
| Story ID: | 361246 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fred McKenna: Leadership by Example - New Executive Director Arrives at NNSY Ready to Provide Valuable Contributions, by Troy Miller, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
