Photo By Daniel DeAngelis | Scott Durdle recently became Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Nuclear Production Manager...... read more read more
Normally, Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) Nuclear Production Managers (Code 300N) start their shipyard career as a mechanic and work their way up to become the Nuclear Production Department Head; however, this wasn’t the case for NNSY’s newest Nuclear Production Manager, Scott Durdle, who recently took over the position after starting his NNSY career in April 2023.
“I served over 30 years in the U.S. Navy before becoming a shipyard employee, but this isn’t my first time working at NNSY,” said Durdle. “I was stationed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Naval Reactors Representative’s Office serving first as the Moored Training Ship Conversion Program Manager and then as the Deputy Naval Reactors Representative until I retired as a Commander in September 2022.”
Durdle also completed tours at the Naval Reactors Field Offices at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Charleston and NPTU Ballston Spa, where he provided oversight of day-to-day operations, planned and executed maintenance shutdowns, and trained students and staff. He completed tours onboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) and the Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
“After retiring from the Navy in 2022, I became a defense contractor for about a year,” said Durdle. “It was a remote job, which I wanted to like, but I missed my three passions: personal development, delivering ships to the fleet and project management. This particular job did not have any of those. There wasn’t any camaraderie either and I missed that. Fortunately, NNSY’s Operations Manager (Code 301) position became available. This was a perfect fit for me. I applied and was hired in April 2023 which eventually led me to becoming Nuclear Production Manager.”
Code 300N is responsible for approximately 500,000 mandays a year of nuclear work, which is approximately one-third of the workload NNSY performs. This includes nuclear work performed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia; NPTU Charleston; NPTU Ballston Spa; and Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) Norfolk, Virginia.
“Unlike most of my successful predecessors, I was not ‘born and raised’ at NNSY as a civilian employee,” said Durdle. “I do believe, however, with my experiences as both enlisted and as an officer, service aboard both aircraft carriers and submarines, and 18 years working for Naval Reactors that I bring a different perspective to this position where I understand the business from a different lens than most people see it. It is with this perspective and experience that I aim to make Code 300N the best department possible and focus on completing nuclear work with first-time quality.”
Durdle hails from Sheridan, Michigan. After graduating high school, Durdle knew he wasn’t ready for college, and thought joining the Navy would be a good holdover choice until he figured out what he wanted to do.
“I was a straight C student all through high school. I did just enough to get by,” said Durdle. “A friend of mine who had enlisted in the Navy came back and told me about all this money he was getting for joining the Navy’s nuclear program. I liked this idea, so I joined the Navy as a nuclear electrician’s mate. What started as a six-year commitment, ended up being a 30-year career.”
During his career, Durdle found himself becoming a “lifetime learner.” He’s earned a bachelor's degree in business administration at Limestone College, Gaffney, South Carolina and a second bachelor’s in nuclear engineering technology at Excelsior College, Albany, New York. He most recently earned a master’s degree in project management from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia; and is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute. Additionally, in 2024 Durdle became a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach.
“Not only did I focus on college during my time in the Navy, but I also worked on qualifications above that required for my pay grade,” said Durdle. “I qualified as engineering watch supervisor as a second class petty officer and engineering officer of the watch as a first class petty officer. Both of those accomplishments were rare onboard submarines because those positions were geared towards Sailors and officers of higher ranks.”
So what made Durdle go from a straight C high school student to a successful “lifetime learner?”
“I married my high school sweetheart, Marianne, and I became responsible for somebody other than myself,” said Durdle. “It gave me a drive from that time moving forward and I headed on a lifelong pursuit of bettering myself. This allowed me to provide for my wife of 33 years to allow her to focus on raising our three children. This was my initial drive but now I just enjoy continuing to learn as much as I can about project management, leadership, and any other topic that seems interesting.”
He added, “Now I will face new challenges, continue to learn and pass down the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years to Code 300N employees for their professional development growth. It is my hope one day, that many Code 300N personnel will commit to becoming ‘lifetime learners’ and show our Navy, our country and the world why Norfolk Naval Shipyard is America’s Shipyard!”
| Date Taken: | 05.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2025 10:32 |
| Story ID: | 497181 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 680 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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