Story and Photos by Troy Miller, NNSY Public Affairs Specialist

Norfolk Naval Shipyard:

"At NNSY, ensuring these critical backup systems remain in peak operating condition falls on the dedicated artisans of the Diesel Shop (Shop 38 Diesel). Operating under the NNSY Mechanical Department (Code 938), this specialized workforce safeguards nearly every vessel in the yard. "Shop 38 Diesel is a different entity," Diesel Shop Supervisor Tony Schwartz explained. "We are a tight-knit group. Diesels are complicated, and planned work rarely happens in our world - work is generally an emergency when something breaks." Unlike trade shops assigned to a single project, Shop 38 Diesel supports the entire waterfront. Comprising approximately 25 civilian mechanics and 25 Fleet Maintenance Submarines (FMB) Sailors, the shop manages everything from main propulsion engines and generators to maintaining 14 temporary high-pressure air compressors (HPACs) that provide essential, breathable air shipboard. While high-pressure air keeps the fleet breathing, the shop's broader expertise spans a vast range of engine systems. "We work on diesels, governors, fuel pumps, injectors, nozzles, and P100 dewatering pumps," said Diesel Shop Work Leader Gary Galles. "We will go to Norfolk, we have been to Charleston, and we will travel anywhere required to support Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availabilities." That readiness was tested during a recent CNO availability for the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) at Naval Station Norfolk. When the carrier's onboard high-pressure air compressors (HPAC)failed and rental units were delayed, Shop 38 Diesel immediately deployed and manned temporary air compressors 24/7 for nearly a month, providing continuous, redundant air coverage. "Being able to answer that call and provide that service was phenomenal," Schwartz said. "My guys absolutely killed it." The shop's expertise also extends offsite. For three years, Shop 38 Diesel mechanics traveled to the Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston in South Carolina, to maintain aged air compressors aboard the moored training ship Daniel Webster (MTS 626). Sourcing spare parts required months of researching blueprints and designing custom components. Their efforts successfully restored the compressors, enabling the historic vessel's transit to NNSY in August. A major recent win occurred aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), where the team performed a highly complex casting plate job on the Colt-Pielstick emergency diesel generators - a demanding evolution only attempted once before in the Navy, pierside in 2024. "During the first job, a manufacturer representative was here for a technical assist, and we were told it couldn't be done the way we wanted," Schwartz recalled. "But our guys figured out a way to pull a cooler to access the casting plates directly, safely bypassing the need to pull the heavy cylinder heads and replace gaskets." Partnering with NNSY's Crane and Rigging Operations (Code 740) Shop 72 Riggers, the team executed the job independently, trimming nearly two weeks off the maintenance timeline. "It was a major win because they didn’t need factory assistance," Schwartz added. "They got the experience, figured out a more efficient way, and did it. Rework is my biggest pet peeve. Taking the time to do the job right and putting out first-time quality is always the priority." While the workload is diverse, the personnel share a common bond. Between 85 and 90 percent of the civilian mechanics are military veterans, many of whom served as active-duty Navy Enginemen (EN). This background creates a seamless partnership with the FMB Sailors rotating through the shop to earn qualifications under the Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy (NAMTS) program. "Being able to go to an older engineman for guidance is a massive benefit," Galles said. "I understand what these active-duty Sailors are going through. It is not just a job for them; it is a very demanding career. A lot of people don’t appreciate what it’s like to be underway for long periods in a high-stress environment." Engineman First Class Kelby Wunschel added, "Working alongside the civilian mechanics here has been great. They have an incredible wealth of knowledge, and they've taught me a lot of unique trade tricks that I hope to pass down to junior sailors later in my career." Whether maintaining air compressors or performing precision overhauls on massive shipboard engines, the mechanics of Shop 38 Diesel remain focused on quality. Though their service uniforms have been replaced with industrial work clothes, their dedication remains constant. By combining decades of military experience with deckplate innovation, these artisans ensure the fleet's vital lifelines remain fully charged, proving daily that true readiness is maintained from within America's Shipyard."