THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY
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Mr. Rodgers has been personally and directly responsible for the successful development, design, construction and testing of the nuclear propulsion plant for the VIRGINIA class submarines. His technical and programmatic leadership had a profound and diverse impact in producing a simple, reliable and cost-conscious submarine design with construction, operation and maintenance at the forefront in every design decision. He is also paving the way for incorporation of electric drive propulsion into the VIRGINIA class.
Mr. Rodgers' success is characterized by significant advancements in diverse aspects of submarine design, by his technical leadership in transforming the submarine design process, and by his unprecedented success in completing the VIRGINIA class propulsion design on essentially the original schedule set in 1993. The technical advancements included the development of large engine-room modules to achieve required acoustic performance with a more robust and cost-effective design. He also radically simplified reactor compartment structural design, ensured a well-thought-out and carefully implemented approach to nearly paperless shipboard operation and maintenance, implemented notable environmental protection improvements that were recognized by the Secretary of the Navy Pollution Prevention Award, and led the way for future insertion of electric drive propulsion systems.
Mr. Rodgers transformed
key elements of the submarine, propulsion-system design process through effective
implementation of the "design/build" approach; establishment of a
truly integrated ship design approach, practical application of computer-aided
design, and timely use of full-scale demonstrations to prove critical aspects
of new design approaches and construction techniques. The significance of these
accomplishments and the important role the VIRGINIA class will play in the 21st
Century Fleet mark Mr. Rodgers' achievements as truly first magnitude and he
is indeed most worthy of the ASNE Gold Medal.