VSRA's Committees are open to all members and meet regularly to discuss a range of topics pertinent to the industry. Active participants in these committees are recognized as leaders both in their specific areas of expertise and in the committee structure. Members are encouraged to engage in these meetings to not only share their knowledge but also to collaborate on addressing mutual concerns, shaping the association's positions, and developing educational content for the broader membership.
We'd like to share details on recent and upcoming committee information, and we encourage your involvement.
- Communications - Chair: Zebedee Hamilton (Craft and Technical Solutions, LLC)
Last Meeting: April 23rd, 2025
Next Meeting: June 25th, 2025
During the previous Communications Committee meeting, members discussed proposed updates to the VSRA website and shifting the newsletter format to focus more on timely articles supported by weekly email distributions. Future meetings will continue exploring how the Association can more effectively share industry information with the Hampton Roads community. Zebedee encourages strong attendance at the June meeting, as we’ll be presenting potential website changes and gathering valuable feedback from the group.
- Contracts - Chair: Kevin Cosgrove (Willcox & Savage, P.C.)
Last Meeting: May 1st, 2025
Next Meeting: June 5th, 2025
The Contracts Committee held its most recent meeting on May 1st, marking the final meeting chaired by Tony Mazzeo of Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC. Tony officially passed the role of Committee Chair to Kevin Cosgrove, who now leads the group. The meeting featured participation from MARMC, with discussions covering property management, PIEE implementation, FAR 2.0 updates, CPARS, and more. Tony and Kevin also announced that the June meeting will feature a panel discussion format.
- Cybersecurity - Chairs: Tracy Gregorio (G2 Ops) and Greg Tomchick (Valor Cybersecurity)
Last Meeting: March 27th, 2025
Next Meeting: May 22nd, 2025
The Cybersecurity Committee had their last meeting on March 27th. The committee meeting focused on understanding CMMC and common mistakes made with CMMC through a presentation by Dr. Johnny Garcia of SimIS.
Additionally, Greg Tomchick is now the co-chair to the Cybersecurity Committee, and we are thankful to have him and his wisdom assist the Association.
- Human Resources - Chair: Chris Abel (Willcox & Savage, P.C.)
Seminar Held On: April 2nd, 2025
Last Meeting: May 14th, 2025
Next Meeting: June 4th, 2025
The Human Resources Seminar was held on April 2nd and was filled with important topics. The Human Resources Committee held its most recent meeting on May 14th with Zhanna Meggison, the Alternative Dispute Resolution (mediation) Coordinator for our EEOC district. She addressed the Commission’s mediation program, how to access it, the advantages of using it, and tips for successfully resolving EEOC discrimination charges through the program.
- OSHA Partnership - Chair: Nate Stanton (General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk) and Larry Ryan (MHI Ship Repair and Services)
Last Meeting: April 30th, 2025
Next Meeting: August 20th, 2025
The OSHA–VSRA Partnership met on April 30th to discuss MARMC updates, the Best Practices Committee, and OSHA news, including the upcoming public hearing on heat injury prevention and the release of 2024 workplace injury data. Robert Polite announced his retirement and introduced new OSHA contacts, reaffirming the national office’s commitment to the partnership. The group reviewed 2024 end-of-year results and 2025 goals, noting continued positive safety trends. Training opportunities, including the OSHA 5410 course in May, were also highlighted.
- Quality Assurance - Chair: Casey Tarnowski (Lyon Shipyard, Inc.)
Last Meeting: May 13th, 2025
Next Meeting: July 8th, 2025
The Quality Assurance Committee convened on May 13th following the Quality Management Board meeting. The group discussed several key items, including discrepancies between MARMC and VSRA audit results, usage of welder workmanship guides, and ongoing issues with the audit database. Updates were also provided on RTR (Record of Technical Requirements) guidance concerns and potential improvements for the committee’s processes and collaboration.
The meeting also marked a leadership transition, as long-standing Chair Dennis Robbins announced he will be stepping down from his role. Dennis will be honored for his dedicated service at a later date. Moving forward, Casey Tarnowski will assume the role of Committee Chair.
- Quality Management Board - Chair: Mike Davis (MARMC)
Last Meeting: May 13th, 2025
Next Meeting: July 8th, 2025
The Quality Management Board met on May 13th to review the MARMC Port-Wide Quality Report for May 2025. The meeting covered updates across key areas including auditing, welding, non-destructive testing (NDT), and defect rates for “G” and “Non-G” inspections. Notably, the board discussed continued efforts to ensure compliance with the updated ASNT TC-1A standards, improvements in welder training, and an overall inspection defect rate of 1.78% across 49,960 inspections.
This meeting also had the Board bid farewell to longtime Chair Mike Aldridge, who has served in the role since 2007. Members expressed their appreciation for Mike’s leadership and years of service to the quality community.
- Safety and Environmental - Chairs: Larry Ryan (MHI Ship Repair and Services) and Donna Watkins (General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk)
Last Meeting: May 8th, 2025
Next Meeting: July 10th, 2025
The Safety and Environmental Committee met on May 8th with MARMC for a panel discussion covering Hot Work guidance, competent person training, and environmental communication challenges. MARMC emphasized training support and shared updates on operational impacts from staffing reductions.
The committee approved the March minutes and shared updates on the upcoming Safety & Health Seminar (Sept. 17), OSHA–VSRA Partnership, and environmental reporting deadlines. Robert Coburn was recognized for the winning safety suggestion.
- Security - Chairs: Leigh Kennedy (General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk) and Tamara Haskins (Tecnico Corporation)
Last Meeting: May 7th, 2025
Next Meeting: July 1st, 2025
The Security Committee met on May 7th with strong attendance and key updates from MARMC Industrial Security and NNSY representatives. Topics included the rollout of the new Ship’s Visit Request (ShVR) spreadsheet, clarification on 1172 form usage, and updates on CAC access and DISS visit requirements. The committee also reviewed challenges related to HII's transition to HireRight for background checks, as well as implications of the REAL ID Act, which is now in effect for all federal facility access.
Additional updates included news from the recent DoD Security Symposium, clarification on DBIDS renewals, and the new installation designation of NSA Portsmouth, which now oversees services formerly managed by NNSY.
- Workforce Development - Chair: Tim Richardt (Hampton Roads Workforce Council)
Last Meeting: April 9th, 2025
Next Meeting: June 11th, 2025
The Workforce Development Committee met on April 9th to discuss upcoming shipfitter training programs from Q.E.D. Systems and Tidewater Community College, both aligned with VSRA’s Marine Trade Training (MTT) curriculum and set to launch in summer 2025. These programs focus on hands-on instruction, small class sizes, and essential skills like measurement, layout, and blueprint reading. Colonna’s Shipyard emphasized the importance of repair-focused training and the need for credential portability across the industry.
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