In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, John Polowczyk sits down with Jon Garrity, Founder and CEO of Tagup, to explore the intersection of modern technology and the deckplates. Bringing an impressive background that includes degrees in physics and economics from MIT, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and extensive industrial management experience at GE, Jon is leading the charge in deploying artificial intelligence for supply chain forecasting. The conversation centers on solving long-standing material availability hurdles, breaking down the barriers to tech adoption in ship repair, and understanding what Industry 4.0 means for the future of our waterfront.

The discussion dives deep into how the maritime industrial base can leverage AI without ripping out current IT infrastructure. Jon explains how Large Language Models (LLMs) can be layered seamlessly over existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to instantly query vendor networks, making information search and retrieval significantly cheaper. He also unpacks the power of "World Models" to simulate how a state evolves over time, accurately predicting the probabilities of unexpected growth work before a vessel enters the drydock. By applying these predictive tools, Jon illustrates how the industry can mitigate the "whiplash effect" that destabilizes the supply chain during fluctuating workloads.

John and Jon also tackle the cultural and organizational roadblocks—the different "tribes" and stakeholders—that have slowed the Navy's adoption of these critical technologies compared to the commercial sector. Highlighting proven defense success, Jon shares how Tagup's AI implementation for the U.S. Marine Corps drove a 25% reduction in purchasing costs and a 13% increase in equipment readiness. Ultimately, the episode issues a strong call to action for the Navy and private yards to consolidate their data, emphasizing that the barrier is no longer the technology itself, and unifying the supply graph will yield disproportionate returns for fleet readiness.

Key Takeaways:

• Deploying AI on the deckplates: how predictive analytics can solve material availability and mitigate scheduling delays.
• The power of layered integration: using Large Language Models (LLMs) to query existing ERP systems without costly IT overhauls.
• Forecasting growth work: leveraging AI "World Models" to predict maintenance needs based on historical data.
• Combating the whiplash effect: stabilizing the maritime supply chain against volatile demand fluctuations.
• Proven defense success: how predictive logistics drove a 25% cost reduction and 13% readiness increase for the Marine Corps.
• Overcoming bureaucratic barriers: breaking down silos between Navy and industry stakeholders to embrace Industry 4.0.
• The data imperative: why organizing the supply graph across the enterprise is a data problem, not a technology problem.

A special thank you to our episode sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (https://www.theworkforcecouncil.org/) and Tidewater Staffing (https://www.tidewaterstaffing.com/), for powering the region's maritime training system and making this conversation possible.

This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.

Connect With Us:

• Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!)
• Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.
• Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepair

Hosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, host John Polowczyk sits down with the 2025 VSRA Tradesperson of the Year winners: Meaghan Parish, our Senior Tradesperson of the Year, and Gisaun Brothers, our Junior Tradesperson of the Year. Both of these outstanding individuals come from Colonna's Shipyard, where they have set the standard for technical mastery, safety innovation, and community leadership on the waterfront. The conversation centers on their unique career transitions into the maritime industry, the critical importance of cross-trade collaboration, and the supportive, team-driven culture that makes Colonna's Shipyard highly successful.

The discussion dives deep into the realities of managing complex deckplate operations. Meaghan, a U.S. Navy veteran who served as a Boatswain's Mate, shares how she transitioned her military experience into a specialized role managing hazardous materials, air permits, and critical corrosion control operations. She details what it takes to manage environmental compliance on active vessels, stay calm during high-stakes emergency spill responses, and lead the yard's largest-ever waste disposal project involving over seven tons of material.

John also explores the remarkable trajectory of Gisaun, a Combination Welder and Fitter Apprentice in the Steel America division who transitioned into ship repair from customer service and food industry roles. Admitting he didn't even know what a C-clamp was on day one, Gisaun discusses his rapid advancement to maintaining a 3.0 GPA in his college coursework, mastering blueprint reading, and utilizing 3D modeling. Together, they highlight Gisaun's on-the-job ingenuity, specifically how he engineered a custom fixture with jacking bolts that mitigated penetration installation hazards and doubled production output. Both guests close with powerful advice for young professionals considering a leap into the highly rewarding maritime trades.

Key Takeaways:

• Fostering a winning shipyard culture: how Colonna's Shipyard empowers tradespeople to take true ownership of safety, quality, and cross-trade collaboration.
• Transitioning from the military to the deckplates: Meaghan's journey from Navy Boatswain's Mate to managing complex HAZMAT and environmental compliance.
• Handling high-stakes scenarios: maintaining composure during emergency spill responses and leading massive waste disposal projects.
• Breaking into the trades: Gisaun's inspiring pivot from retail and food service to mastering shipfitting and combination welding.
• The power of apprenticeship: leveraging a 3.0 GPA, blueprint reading, and 3D modeling to excel in structural fabrication.
• Driving deckplate innovation: how Gisaun engineered a custom jacking bolt fixture to improve safety and double production output.
• Advice for the next generation: why you don't need a mechanical background to launch a successful career in the maritime industry.

A special thank you to our episode sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (https://www.theworkforcecouncil.org/) and Tidewater Staffing (https://www.tidewaterstaffing.com/), for powering the region's maritime training system and making this conversation possible.

This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.

Connect With Us:

• Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!)
• Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.
• Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepair

Hosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.

In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, host John Polowczyk sits down with Rachel Sciullo, Maritime Welding Tech Program Director at the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI). Bringing 15 years of multifaceted trades experience—spanning commercial underwater diving, crane manufacturing, quality leadership at Steel America, and certified welding inspection—Rachel offers a powerful, deckplate perspective on career mobility and the rising generation of trades talent. The conversation centers on breaking down misconceptions about the trades, highlighting the rewarding paths available to women in heavy industry, and demonstrating how a foundation in skilled craftsmanship opens doors to engineering, inspection, and corporate leadership.

The discussion dives deep into the realities and technical demands of the maritime industrial base. Rachel recounts her unconventional path from a Pennsylvania farmhand to underwater pile driving in the James and Elizabeth Rivers, explaining how precision, hand-eye coordination, and attention to detail give tradespeople a competitive edge in high-spec welding disciplines like titanium, tungsten, and copper-nickel. Together, John and Rachel explore the shifting culture of the waterfront, emphasizing how modern safety standards, proactive HR support, and mutual respect empower anyone willing to show up and learn. They also examine the critical national shortage of trades talent and the wealth of company- and foundation-backed scholarships available to fast-track students into debt-free, high-paying careers.

Finally, the conversation underscores the vital importance of safety culture and deckplate preparedness across the port, previewing the 30th Annual VSRA Safety & Health Seminar. Designed specifically for the frontline artisans navigating confined spaces, hot work, and complex shipyard operations, the seminar equips the maritime workforce with the critical training and ergonomic practices needed to stay safe on the job. Rachel closes with a candid message for anyone on the fence about entering the trades: companies will always value a dependable, safe, and teachable worker, and entering the maritime sector guarantees a lifetime of career stability, personal growth, and upward mobility.

Key Takeaways:

• Breaking barriers for women in skilled trades: leveraging attention to detail and precision in exotic metal and high-spec welding.
• From the farm to underwater diving: Rachel’s journey through commercial diving, heavy fabrication, and technical instruction.
• The immense career lattice of the trades: how welding certifications bridge directly into NDE inspection, project management, and engineering.
• Addressing the critical maritime workforce gap: overcoming the nationwide shortage through accelerated 7-to-24 month technical training.
• Funding trade education: accessing company sponsorships and foundation scholarships to enter the industrial workforce debt-free.
• Upward mobility and personal development: advancing from the shipyard floor to management while pursuing higher education.
• Promoting deckplate safety at the 30th Annual VSRA Safety & Health Seminar, providing frontline tradespeople with vital safety, compliance, and ergonomic training.
• Rachel’s definitive advice: why reliability, safety awareness, and work ethic will always outperform arrogance on the waterfront.

A special thank you to our episode sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council (https://www.theworkforcecouncil.org/) and Tidewater Staffing (https://www.tidewaterstaffing.com/), for powering the region's maritime training system and making this conversation possible.

This is the official podcast of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, where we discuss the issues impacting our repair yards, workforce, and national defense. If you liked what you heard today, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform or application and leave us a review.

Connect With Us:

• Share Your Thoughts: Send your comments, questions, and ideas for future topics to radio@virginiashiprepair.org. (Note: ensure the email domain matches your actual routing!)
• Learn More: Visit us online at VirginiaShipRepair.org to discover more about our industry and membership.
• Follow VSRA: Connect with us on everything here: https://linktr.ee/vashiprepair

Hosted by John, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association.