THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY
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 Rick Hepburn (left) and RADM Goddard present the award to Mr. Fireman |
Mr. Howard Fireman is a pioneering engineer and exceptional leader who has been instrumental in transforming naval ship design, acquisition and construction to a more collaborative development process. Mr. Fireman has skillfully blended the ship research, development and design capabilities of the Navy with the modern shipbuilding and business technologies of industry partners to create a continuous, collaborative process that is both more efficient and more responsive to the Navy’s current and future needs. He has created a disciplined, yet flexible top down total ship systems engineering process for developing and evaluating future ship concepts, which has greatly enhanced the ability of Navy decision makers to consider alternative warfare capabilities and force architectures.
Mr. Fireman is an exceptionally capable systems engineer and ship designer who has a unique perspective on operator requirements based on his experience as COMSEVENTHFLT Science and Technology Advisor and as Special Assistant to the CNO Executive Panel. He has effectively leveraged his knowledge and experience to revitalize the Navy’s in-house early stage ship design capability and to replenish and reinvigorate the ship design workforce; and he has instituted an ongoing commitment to continuous product and process improvement. He is an innovative and visionary leader who has fostered the development of a highly collaborative, “Knowledge-Based” design culture and he has attracted highly competent and highly motivated ship design engineers who are well suited to sustaining and enhancing that culture. He has created a collaborative effort between government and leading universities to support the training and development of entry level ship design engineers, and he has instituted a process for ongoing development and application of new design tools based on assessment of future needs.
Mr. Fireman has transformed the nation’s naval ship design capability and he has instituted processes to ensure its future strength and vitality. The nation is indeed fortunate to have a man of such talent, vision and stature serving as Chief Naval Architect of the Navy. Mr. Fireman is truly most highly deserving of the ASNE Gold Medal for 2005.