VSRA's Committees are open to all members and meet regularly to discuss a range of topics pertinent to the industry.
To join a committee, please click here to edit your profile.
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.
- Cybersecurity - Chairs: Tracy Gregorio (G2 Ops) and Greg Tomchick (Valor Cybersecurity)
Last Meeting: July 24th, 2025
Next Meeting: September 25th, 2025
The Cybersecurity Committee had their last meeting on July 24th. The committee received a presentation from Tom Tollerton of Forvis Mazars about the new CMMC regulations. Tollerton outlined the three CMMC levels, the phased rollout timeline beginning in Summer 2025, and the assessment process, emphasizing that a perfect score of 110 is needed for a Final Certificate. He highlighted an anticipated bottleneck for assessors and advised companies to engage a C3PAO early, noting that compliance is an ongoing effort requiring annual affirmation from company leadership. The meeting concluded with a call for members pursuing early certification to collaborate and share their experiences.
- Human Resources - Chair: Chris Abel (Willcox & Savage, P.C.)
Last Meeting: July 2nd, 2025
Next Meeting: September 4th, 2025
The last Human Resources meeting was held on July 2nd and featured presenter Kevin Cosgrove of Willcox & Savage and VSRA's Contracts Committee Chair. Kevin discussed key requirements of the Service Contract Act (SCA), focusing on contractor obligations for employee wages, fringe benefits, and rules established by various presidential executive orders. The presentation slides have been posted on the Association's website, and the next meeting is scheduled for September 4th, 2025.
- 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 and Quality Management Board
QA Chairs: Casey Tarnowski (Lyon Shipyard, Inc.) and Matthew Masciangelo (Advanced Integrated Technologies (AIT), LLC)
QMB Chair: Mike Davis (MARMC)
Last Meeting: July 8th, 2025
Next Meeting: September 10th, 2025
The VSRA Quality Assurance (QA) Committee and the Quality Management Board (QMB) held a combined meeting on July 8, 2025. During the QA session, Casey Tarnowski officially assumed the role of Committee Chair, announcing that Matthew Masciangelo will serve alongside him as Co-Chair. The committee discussed the welder workmanship guide, the current VSRA Audit status, overdue audits, database issues, and other committee opportunities.
For the QMB portion of the meeting, Mike Davis of MARMC presented port-wide metrics for CARs, discussed lessons learned from recent unplanned events, and provided several important updates. These included a new deadline for companies to update their NDT written practices and a request for contractors to review their welding programs for compliance. Memos and checklists on these topics were distributed and are available on the VSRA website.
The committee also recognized the significant contributions of its recent leadership. Members expressed their appreciation for Mike Aldridge's longtime service and honored Dennis Robbins as he stepped down from his role as QA Committee Chair.
- Safety and Environmental - Chairs: Jason Kjos (East Coast Repair & Fabrication, Inc.) and Steve Bulleigh (Colonna's Shipyard, Inc.)
Last Meeting: July 10th, 2025
Next Meeting: September 11th, 2025
On July 10, 2025, the Safety Management Board and Safety and Environmental Committee held a meeting led by Frank Walker and Jason Kjos. The first half featured presentations from the MARMC safety team covering shipboard mishap investigation protocols, temporary fire protection equipment standards, and environmental reporting requirements for hazardous air pollutants. In the second half, the committee approved the May 10th minutes, selected Rodney Hanson's idea for taping ventilation as the quarterly safety suggestion winner, and discussed a potential change to the Hot Work Permit. The meeting concluded with updates on the OSHA-VSRA partnership, a renewed OSHA program focusing on amputations, an announcement for a vacant Environmental Co-Chair position, and scheduling the next meeting for September 11, 2025.
- Security - Chairs: Leigh Kennedy (General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk) and Tamara Haskins (Tecnico Corporation)
Last Meeting: July 1st, 2025
Next Meeting: September 2nd, 2025
The Security Committee met on July 1, 2025, with guests from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Key announcements concerned Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), including significant traffic backups from new security enforcement, gate closures through July 12th, and its new status as a tenant command under NSA Portsmouth. DCSA representatives introduced a new mandatory 60-minute Insider Threat course, discussed a new objective assessment scoring system where timely annual self-inspections are critical for a "Superior" rating , and highlighted a new Virginia law making drone trespassing near defense sites a felony. The committee also congratulated Prism Maritime LLC and GDIT Chesapeake for winning the 2025 James S. Cogswell Award before the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be held on September 2, 2025.
- Workforce Development - Chair: Ali Broemeling (Colonna's Shipyard, Inc.) and Tim Richardt (Hampton Roads Workforce Council)
Last Meeting: August 13th, 2025
Next Meeting: October 8th, 2025
On August 13, 2025, the VSRA Workforce Development Committee meeting featured two presentations focused on military and veteran employment. Sultan Camp of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council discussed strategies for connecting the maritime industry with military talent through the Hampton Roads Veterans Employment Centers and "757 Career Summits". Zuri Polk from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services then detailed statewide programs, including the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) that waives public university tuition for eligible families and a new paid internship program for military spouses and dependents. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2025.
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