VSRA President Bill Crow
On January 31, 2017, VSRA President Bill Crow presented the 2016 Annual Report to the General Membership at the first luncheon of the new year. Describing 2016 as the "year of partnerships," Mr. Crow spoke to the unending "pride, passion, and patriotism" that kept the ship repair industry strong through austere times.
Please click here to view the 2016 Annual Report!
Bill began by asking for a moment of silence in tribute to Leo Marshall, the founder of TMTI & STASR, who passed away in April 2016. He then reminded the Membership of ASN Sean Stackley's warning in October 2015 that the ship repair industrial base would face "the perfect storm" in 2016, and thanked the Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, VSRA Staff, and Membership for guiding the industry through that storm, saying simply, "we survived!"
He went on to point out key partnerships that were strengthened in 2016, including the Association's relationship with the U.S. Navy, leaders in Federal, State, and Local Government, OSHA, and Workforce Development. He also thanked the Membership for their active participation, generosity, and phenomenal support of the Association, pointing out that more than 10,000 students were reached by Career Day Volunteers, and celebrating the success of the Annual VSRF Golf Tournament and LEGO Competition.
In closing, Bill implored those in attendance to remember that, "you are an irreplaceable National Security asset that the United States cannot ever afford to lose."
Bill has served as President of VSRA since September 2012. Born and raised in Morganfield, Kentucky, Bill Crow graduated in 1980 from the United States Naval Academy earning a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. He also holds a Master of Science degree from the National Defense University Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
His Navy career included at-sea assignments of various division officer billets and Chief Engineer in USS PHARRIS (FF-1094), Assistant Operations Officer of Commander Destroyer Squadron Twenty Six, an extended department head tour as Chief Engineer in USS BRISCOE (DD-977), Material Officer for Commander Destroyer Squadrons Ten & Two, Executive Officer of USS PETERSON (DD-969), Commanding Officer of USS AUSTIN (LPD-4), and Training and Readiness Assistant Chief of Staff for Commander Amphibious Group Two.
Ashore he served the Navy as instructor at SWOSCOLCOM for Steam Engineering, SWO programs officer for COMNAVSURFLANT, Chief Staff Officer to the Commandant, Naval District, Washington, COMOPTEVFOR Surface Warfare Director, and Executive Officer of Naval Station Norfolk, the world largest naval base. He completed his 30 years of military service as the last Commanding Officer of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, and the first Commander of Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek-Fort Story, with the transfer of the Army’s Fort Story at Cape Henry, Virginia to the Navy on October 1, 2009.
After retirement from the Navy in July of 2010, he transitioned into the private business sector as a senior naval consultant for McKean Defense Group. His primary responsibility was to review policy and procedures and to develop recommendations for implementation to improve the Navy’s conventional surface ship maintenance and modernization.
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