In May 2015 Rick Schwarting joined the Phoenix International Holdings Inc team. He is the Vice President and General Manager of Phoenix’s Norfolk facility. Phoenix specializes in waterborne ship repairs, deep ocean search, and submarine rescue.
Rick’s fourteen years of private sector experience include: Director of Engineering and Quality and Business Development for BAE Systems Ship Repair: Director Field Services Rolls-Royce Naval Marine; and VP/GM Marine Services Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc, Portsmouth Virginia.
Rick served in three command tours during a 27 year naval career: Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity San Francisco: Fleet Technical Support Center Pacific; and Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair, Portsmouth, Virginia. He was also the Repair Officer on USS SAMEUAL GOMPERS and a project manager at Charleston Naval Shipyard. He is a graduate of the Navy Diving and Salvager school and has participated in various Navy salvage projects including the Space Shuttle Challenger recovery. He served in submarine and surface ships during his first five Navy years.
Rick has a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and two degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an Ocean Engineer degree. He has been a Licensed Professional Engineer since 1985. He also serves on the national Board of Directors of Read to Them, a non-profit organization headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, focused on increasing elementary school literacy skills.