PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD, Maine – Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Naval Support Activity Maine (NSA Maine) welcomed Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Civilian Personnel Policy Michael A. Cogar, Sept. 9.
During his first visit to the shipyard since assuming his position in May 2025, Cogar engaged with shipyard leadership and subject matter experts, highlighting how the workforce processes, and emerging technologies are evolving at PNSY to meet mission-critical submarine maintenance requirements and support the Arsenal of Freedom.
The visit featured a tour of Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USSWashington(SSN 787) and engagements with production and engineering teams on Model Line, a continuous improvement initiative recently implemented to aid in non-stop mechanical work. Cogar also met with subject-matter experts to discuss workforce-led innovations and advanced repair capabilities, including cold spray and additive manufacturing.
“Fleet readiness is critical to our national security,” said Cogar. “The dedicated civilians of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard — both on and off the line — are essential to ensuring we remain prepared to deter and, if necessary, defeat peer adversaries. I am grateful for their expertise and unwavering commitment to the Department of War’s mission.”
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is approaching its workforce, processes, and resources with a focus on aligning civilian talent to mission-critical needs. This effort builds on PNSY’s legacy and our gold-standard performance set by our shipyard workforce, ensuring our work aligns with the Department of War readiness priorities and warfighter needs.
“Deputy Secretary Cogar’s visit gave us the opportunity to showcase the people, partnerships, and capabilities that enable Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to deliver for the fleet,” said Capt. Jesse Nice, shipyard commander. “Our workforce is finding better ways to execute critical maintenance through their expertise and commitment, and these efforts are already producing tangible results across the shipyard — some of which we had the pleasure of sharing with DASW Cogar today.”
As America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard delivers the decisive edge required to master an era of evolving threats. It stands at the forefront of America's commitment to peace through strength, delivering combat-ready submarines that are lethal, resilient, and prepared to win. The work performed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard directly contributes to national security, ensuring the U.S. Navy remains the most dominant maritime force anywhere in the world.