Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Apprentice Andrew “A.J.” Cruz has been an apprentice for approximately six months. “The idea of going to college and earning a degree didn’t feel right for me,” said Cruz. “I felt coming here and learning a trade and the opportunity to work with my hands was the best decision for me at the time and currently, I have no regrets.”...
Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Work Leader Eric Slate enjoys making tools for other shops in order to make their job easier and provide better quality. “We actually have a lot of shops in the vicinity where the mechanics come to us needing a center punch, a pry and other materials and tools they use every day,’ said Slate. “Knowing that Shop 11F can......
Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Alejandro “Alex” Beason became interested in blacksmithing when he was about 13-years-old. “A family friend needed a place to store her forge anvil and all the equipment she had,” said Beason. “Once she brought it over and I got a hammer and a pair of tongs in my hand and actually got to start working with pieces of......
Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
250131-N-CR433-1049 Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Jesse Dalton was first introduced to blacksmithing when he was 12-years-old. “I started playing World of Warcraft and the character I created was a blacksmith,” said Dalton. “At the time I didn’t know everything a blacksmith did, so I started Googling and found it very interesting. This led me to......
Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
250131-N-CR433-1017 Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Apprentice Sam Graves has been at NNSY for six months. Graves became an apprentice, looking for a steady job where he could learn a new skill. “Currently I am doing a lot of shadowing, watching how the shop does its job and how to do it safe,” said Graves. “I’m looking forward to get into the grind......
Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Christopher “Toad” Kanash originally wanted to be an actor, then decided to change his degree to management. His father recommended that he apply for a position at the shipyard until he figured things out. “I wanted to work with Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), but there wasn’t a position available at the time, so I......
Photo by Troy Miller | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | 01.31.2025
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Metal Forging Shop (Shop 11F) Metal Forger Ian McHorney started his shipyard career in the Shipfitter Shop (Shop 11) approximately 10 years ago. It wasn’t until eight years later that he became a metal forger. “I have always been fascinated with forging. When I had the opportunity to work in Shop 11F, I jumped all over it,” said McHorney. “The job requests are......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Tynes | 102d Public Affairs Detachment | 07.20.2019
Kevin Burr heats a piece of metal in his gas-powered forge while crafting a knife. The forge is one of the few pieces of equipment he had to purchase. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Tynes)...
