Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

On Wednesday, August 24, 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) voted to remove Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the Defense Department’s list of facilities slated for closure. This success remains first and foremost the result of the incredible record of accomplishment turned in by the dedicated workers of the Shipyard.

That record formed the basis for an irrefutable case as to why the Yard should remain open. For more than two years, John was proud to join in this comprehensive effort to advocate on behalf of the Shipyard through meetings, correspondence, hearings, and rallies. A team including the Seacoast Shipyard Association, Shipyard unions and employees, the local Chambers of Commerce, individual community members, the New Hampshire and Maine governors and members of the states’ Congressional delegations came together to fight for Portsmouth and prove the Yard’s centuries-old tradition of excellence will continue far into the future.

Ultimately, the case was undeniably clear, and John could not agree more with BRAC Commission Chairman Anthony Principi, who said, “I believe that Portsmouth is truly the preeminent public shipyard in this nation. It is the gold standard by which we should measure shipyards.” By removing Portsmouth from the Defense Department’s list of facilities slated for closure, BRAC Commissioners confirmed what we knew all along: that our country could not afford to lose the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a part of its national defense infrastructure.

Moving forward, John will continue to work closely with the members of the New Hampshire and Maine Congressional delegations, the Navy and the Department of Defense to make sure the best shipyard in the world continues to enjoy a robust workload for years to come.