Mr. Robert A. Binder

Award: Claud A. Jones Award (Fleet Engineer)
Year: 2025
Recipient: Mr. Robert A. Binder
Reason:for his significant contribution to naval engineering as set forth in the following  

CITATION:

Mr. Robert A. Binder demonstrated extraordinary leadership, technical expertise, and dedication supporting the Military Sealift Command’s Watson Class Large Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, among the Nation’s most critical strategic sealift assets. His accomplishments significantly strengthened operational readiness, sustainment capability, and global force projection support.

As Principal Port Engineer supporting the Watson Class, Mr. Binder led complex maintenance, modernization, and lifecycle engineering efforts improving operational readiness, reliability, and sustainment of these vital logistics platforms. His work overseeing major repair availabilities, propulsion system support, alteration projects, and engineering initiatives directly strengthened the Navy’s strategic sealift capability and worldwide operational responsiveness.

Mr. Binder earned widespread respect for technical acumen, professionalism, work ethic, and leadership within the fleet engineering community. He consistently delivered innovative engineering solutions while mentoring mariners, collaborating with industry and regulatory stakeholders, and advancing mission readiness across the Military Sealift Command engineering enterprise.

His accomplishments included supporting major repair availabilities, implementing cost-saving engineering initiatives, improving equipment sustainment practices, and strengthening lifecycle maintenance planning for critical sealift assets. His technical leadership significantly enhanced the reliability and operational effectiveness of one of the Department of Defense’s most important logistics vessel classes.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Binder demonstrated unwavering dedication to operational excellence, engineering professionalism, and Fleet readiness. His efforts strengthened strategic logistics support capability, improved engineering reliability, and enhanced the Nation’s ability to project and sustain military power around the world.

For his outstanding leadership, mentorship of mariners, technical excellence, and unwavering commitment to Fleet readiness, the American Society of Naval Engineers is honored to recognize Mr. Robert A. Binder as the recipient of the 2025 Claud A. Jones Award (Fleet Engineering).