BAE SYSTEMS APPOINTS DAN WELCH TO LEAD ITS NORFOLK SHIP REPAIR BUSINESS

BAE SYSTEMS APPOINTS DAN WELCH TO LEAD ITS NORFOLK SHIP REPAIR BUSINESS

13 May 2008 | Ref. 156/2008

NORFOLK, Virginia -- BAE Systems has appointed Dan Welch as vice president and general manager of its Norfolk Ship Repair business. Welch succeeds Bill Clifford, who assumed the role of president, Ship Repair, in April after leading the Norfolk Ship Repair yard since 2005.

Welch will now head up the largest private sector shipyard in South Hampton Roads, Virginia, which is responsible for providing ship maintenance and modernization services for the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet and other government and commercial customers.

"Dan brings more than 35 years of hands-on, relevant experience in the maritime industry," said Clifford. "He has served as project manager of complex ship overhauls to the highest levels of leadership in ship maintenance, repair and construction operations. This experience and his character make him the right choice to lead Norfolk Ship Repair as it delivers the world class services it has been known for since 1915."

Welch joined BAE Systems as Ship Repair's Director, Government Business Development and Technical Proposals in January 2007 from Maersk Line, Limited, where he served as vice president, Vessel Life Cycle Management.

Prior to joining the private sector, Dan completed a distinguished 28-year career in the Navy, where he served in key leadership roles for Navy ship engineering, construction, modernization, conversion and repair. His last assignment was as Commanding Officer, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair in San Diego, and he also served in a similar capacity in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Welch holds a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and an undergraduate degree in Naval Architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy.

BAE Systems Ship Repair is the United States' leading non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion company - focused on drydock and ship repair services for the U.S. Navy, other defense agencies and commercial customers. It has major operations in Norfolk, San Diego and San Francisco, California, and Hawaii.