06/04/2026
Commander’s corner
By Capt. JD Crinklaw, commander, PSNS & IMF
Team PSNS & IMF,
Summer is here, which means we’re officially halfway through the year. Like hitting the midpoint of a marathon, it’s a great time to catch our breath, reflect on our hard work, and prepare for the road ahead. This is the time to be intentional about our pace—track our goals, encourage one another, and lock in to finish the year strong.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time talking with teams across the shipyard. In those conversations, one theme keeps coming up: Readiness.
Readiness is more than badging in and presence. It’s about showing up mentally, physically, and professionally prepared. Everything we do here directly supports the fleet, and to fulfill that critical responsibility, it requires ‘All Hands’ on deck. It requires teamwork. It requires leadership to ensure you are equipped with the right knowledge, processes, tools and materials to succeed—on time, every time; to execute non-stop once you start.
I am particularly excited we are driving and seeing success at the deckplates. We are using an effort we are calling Model Line. Across the shipyard, we know the daily frustrations that slow our teams down—whether it's waiting on materials, dealing with outdated procedures, or fighting administrative hurdles. Our Model Line efforts are designed to allow you to change that.
At its core, Model Line is an operator-led workshop that stress-tests our current processes. Instead of trying to improve from the top down, we are putting the mechanic’s voice and experience front and center. The goal is simple: map the actual workflow with the people doing the work, identify the pain points, and run rapid worksite experiments to resolve them.
Through Model Line, we are actively shifting our leadership culture:
Frontline Empowered: The people closest to work identify the friction points.
Leadership Accountable: Shop management is tasked with "swarming" those problems to remove barriers.
Focused on Root Causes: We are moving away from relying on unsung heroes to “just make it work” through a complicated effort. Instead, we are slowing down to fix the core processes, so workarounds are no longer needed.
In this edition of Salute, we are launching a series focusing on where Model Line has been deployed and the success they are driving. I invite you to read about the great work our teams are doing.
As we head into the higher-tempo summer months, we are setting aside time to refocus on these priorities:
Summer Safety Stand-Down (June 24): We will briefly pause operations for a facility-wide safety reset. This will include targeted shift briefings and an interactive vendor fair where you can get hands-on with the latest tools and have a voice in what gear we buy next.
2026 Friends & Family Day (July 25): We want to show off the incredible work you do every day. Bring your family for shipyard tours, demonstrations from the Bangor Dive Locker, and STEM activities for the kids. Registration is open now through June 25, so please sign up today!
Events like these do more than boost morale; they strengthen our readiness by reminding us why we do this vital work: supporting the war fighters that protect our way of life.
Between our civilian employees and Sailors, we are over 14,000 strong. Add in the families and community members who support us at home, and we’ve got one incredible team. Thank you for your continued focus and dedication! My family and I look forward to seeing you at Friends and Family Day.
A Ready Team Defines Us. Quality Drives Us. Mission Unites Us.
