American Shipbuilding Association

CONTACT:
Cynthia L. Brown
202-544-8170

Washington, D.C. – The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) today announced that Mr. John Casey, President of General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, CT, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of ASA for calendar years 2005 and 2006.  Mr. Mike Petters, President of Northrop Grumman Newport News, VA, has been elected the Association’s Vice Chairman.

John Casey earned his BS degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his MS in Management from MIT’s Alfred Sloan Fellows Program.  He joined Electric Boat in 1979 where he has served in numerous supervisory and operation management positions before being appointed the company’s president in October of 2003.

“His extensive shipbuilding experience, including the management of all facets of nuclear-submarine construction and manufacturing, strategic planning, business development and materials acquisition, makes him extremely qualified to lead the American Shipbuilding Association.  He brings a wealth of shipbuilding knowledge and expertise to the table at a time when the industry faces uncertainty in all naval shipbuilding programs for the future," said Cynthia Brown, President of ASA.

The ASA Vice Chairman, Mike Petters, joined Newport News Shipbuilding in 1987 where he has held a number of increasingly responsible positions throughout the shipyard.  These include production supervisor for submarines, marketing manager for submarines and aircraft carriers, Vice President for Aircraft Carrier Programs, and Vice President for Contracts and Pricing.  He assumed the position of president of the company in 2004.  Mike is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned his MBA at the College of William and Mary.

The American Shipbuilding Association is the national trade association of the six largest shipyards and more than 50 companies engaged in the manufacture and service of critical ship systems and components.  The Association’s mission is to educate policymakers and the American public on the need for a strong Navy, Coast Guard, and domestic shipbuilding industry to keep America secure.