Photo By Harrison Cox | NORFOLK, Va - The USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), an amphibious transport dock ship,...... read more read more
NORFOLK, Va –Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) successfully concluded a Selected Restricted Availability for the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) Sept. 4, delivering a fully modernized combatant back to the fleet.
Executing a project of this scale requires sustained momentum and tight coordination. The project served as a Lead Maintenance Activity pilot availability, a significant milestone where major modernization was accomplished directly by Marine Hydraulics International (MHI) and its subcontractors rather than traditional government Alteration Installation Teams.
Working in close coordination, MARMC and its industry partners executed complex upgrades across the entire ship.
“Maintaining momentum on a multi-year project comes down to establishing a unified battle rhythm on day one,” said Blake Nipper, MARMC project manager, USS Mesa Verde. “From the start, MARMC and MHI refused to operate in a vacuum; we functioned as an Integrated Project Team (IPT). We maintained that momentum through transparent, open and honest communication, tackling problems together on the deckplates, and constantly reminding ourselves of the ultimate goal: returning a fully capable warship to the fleet. The sheer stamina and professionalism of both workforces kept driving us forward.”
This effort was bolstered by a “One Navy” partnership, utilizing teamwork across multiple commands, including the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC), Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme Division (PHD), the Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Norfolk and the Mesa Verde crew to restore and modernize the ship’s critical communication, combat and propulsion systems.
“Amphibious warships like USS Mesa Verde are incredibly complex platforms. While MARMC and MHI tackled the Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) work, we relied heavily on the specialized expertise of NSWC PHD, PMS (Program Manager Ships) 321, Planning Yard, Huntington-Ingalls Industries (PY-HII) and NIWC to modernize the ship's 'nervous system' and combat capabilities. This 'One Navy' approach allowed for seamless handoffs and parallel execution. We simply could not have synchronized the testing and integration of these advanced systems without that enterprise-wide alignment.”
Reflecting on the successful completion of the multiyear project, Nipper highlighted the dedication of the workforce as the defining element of the availability's success.
“As the MARMC project manager,managing an availability of this magnitude is a marathon not a sprint, but my proudest moment wasn't crossing off a specific milestone or key event. It was watching the ship light off her various systems and come back to life. My praise for the RMC COC, MHI, Code 900 (SIMA) and other partner workforces is boundless. Every single day, they brought their blood, sweat, and unmatched technical skill to the deck plates. They took a massive, complex project and turned it into a modernized, lethal asset. They are the reason USS Mesa Verde is now fully mission capable and will be ready on arrival to answer the Nation's call.”
The successful completion of the USS Mesa Verde’s maintenance highlights the Navy’s innovation in delivering ready assets back to the fleet to meet operational demands. Through disciplined planning, strategic partnerships and the dedication of skilled Sailors and civilians, MARMC continues to ensure the fleet is a ready and lethal force.
MARMC, a field activity under Program Acquisition Executive Industrial Operations (PAE IO), provides surface ship maintenance, oversight of private-sector repair work and fleet technical assistance to ships throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2026 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 574065 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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