An Industry Perspective on USCG Icebreaker Shipbuilding

Where: U.S. Coast Guard Yard, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21226

Date: Monday, December 15th, 2025; 1130 - 1300

Greetings ASNE Flagship Members,

Mr. Kai Skvarla graduated in 1998 with a BE degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Michigan, but in reality, he was a true naval architect and marine engineer.  He was hired as a USCG GS-11 engineer in 2002 and quickly rose within two years to become the National Security Cutter Program Manager, the largest and most complex acquisition in Coast Guard history up to that time, leading the delivery of the lead ship and full-rate production for the next two. 

After a brief stint as project manager for an international pharmaceutical company, he became Vice President of Operations and then President of BMT Designers & Planners, Inc. in Arlington, VA, in 2010, leading the delivery of naval engineering, government services, and commercial ship design and growing the firm from 50 to 150 employees.  In 2021 he assumed the role of Senior Vice President for International Maritime Programs at Serco. 

In April of this year, he took on his current role as CEO of Davie Defense, responsible for the conversion of its two newly acquired shipyards in Texas from performing commercial ship repair to shipbuilding.  Mr. Skvarla was the 2008 winner of ASNE’s Young Naval Engineer Award.  He also holds an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.

*Special Note: Attendees must be US Citizens.