CHARLESTON, W.V. - Executive Director for Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers Bill Deligne thanked local businesses for their support of the Navy mission during a Navy 50-50 visit in Huntington and Charleston, W.V., Aug. 1-2.

 

The Navy 50-50 Program is a new outreach program sending 50 Navy leaders to 50 cities across the United States to meet with corporate executives, civic leaders, government officials, university faculty and administrators, non-profit executive directors and members of the media. The campaign is designed to increase Americans' understanding of the Navy's mission, capabilities, and relevance to national security.

 

"The capability we have in our ships is just tremendous, and that's due in part to a significant number of businesses that support the Navy," Deligne said. "We rely on our industry partners to help keep America's Navy #1 in the world."

 

USS West Virginia's (SSBN 736) Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Ronald Anthony accompanied Deligne on the 50-50 event. The West Virginia natives' visits to Special Metals Corporation and Level 1 Fasteners in Huntington included meetings with company executives and a tour of the facilities. They also thanked the workforce for their work in supplying parts to the Navy's nuclear-powered fleet.

 

"Both of these businesses support the Navy by providing materials and parts for the Navy's aircraft carriers and submarines," Deligne said. "They're doing a really good thing here not only for West Virginia, but for the country."

 

Special Metals makes and customs nickel alloy metals that are used in aircraft engines and Navy ships. Level 1 Fasteners uses some of the alloys created by Special Metals in their work making speciality nuts, bolts and fasters for Navy ship, submarines and aircraft carriers. According to owner Jack Bourdelais, 95 percent of Level 1's business is supporting the U.S. Navy.

 

Aug. 2, Deligne and Anthony visited T.W. Metals in Charleston. The pair met with company leaders and workers at the 107-year-old business that supplies the Navy with nickel alloys and stainless products for submarines and aircraft carriers.

 

"It's really interesting to see where everything that I put hands on, that I work on, comes from," Anthony said, "and it's even better to see that it's all made here in West Virginia."

 

PEO Aircraft Carriers is responsible for the acquisition, modernization and support of the Navy's in-service and future aircraft carriers. For more information on the U.S. Navy, visit www.navy.mil . Information on the Navy's Executive Outreach visits is available at http://www.navy.mil/navco/display.asp?page=speakers.html .