(WASHINGTON) — The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) today announced the appointment of retired Rear Adm. Jeff Brooks as senior defense adviser. The admiral joined SCA in October and will focus on advocating, communicating and representing the ship repair industry to all stakeholders and to the U.S. Navy.
“Admiral Brooks’ experience and expertise in major Navy shipbuilding and repair programs will be crucial to the SCA,” said Tom Godfrey, chairman of the SCA and CEO of Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk, Va. “We are thrilled to announce his appointment and I am joined by our more than 100 shipyard and partner members in welcoming him to this new position.”
Throughout his 38-year Navy career, Brooks served in key maintenance assignments, culminating in promotion to two-star flag rank and assignment to the Navy’s top maintenance position as fleet maintenance officer. He also served as supervisor of Shipbuilding Newport News, responsible for the Navy’s aircraft carrier and submarine construction programs.
“I’m excited by this opportunity and look forward to representing the ship repair industry. Our focus is a healthy and robust ship repair business characterized by confidence, integrity and sustainability, committed to fleet readiness and a long-term trusted partnership with the Navy,” said Brooks.
Upon his Navy retirement in 2008, Brooks joined Earl Industries as chief operating officer, where he directed daily operations and led the strategic planning for Earl's five divisions. Upon Earl’s acquisition by General Dynamics NASSCO in October 2012, he was appointed senior general manager, responsible for ship repair operations at NASSCO-Norfolk and NASSCO-Earl Industries. He led the consolidation of the two shipyards in 2015 and also established a new operation in Bremerton, Wash., in support of aircraft carrier maintenance and modernization in the Pacific Northwest. He retired from General Dynamics NASSCO in July 2015.
Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) members constitute the shipyard industrial base that builds, repairs, maintains and modernizes U.S. Navy ships and craft, U.S. Coast Guard vessels of all sizes, as well as vessels for other U.S. government agencies. In addition, SCA members build, repair and service America's fleet of commercial vessels. The council represents 40 companies that own and operate over 82 shipyards, with facilities on all three U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes, the inland waterways system, Alaska and Hawaii. SCA also represents 87 partner members that provide goods, services and engineering to the shipyard industry. For more information, visit www.shipbuilders.org.