General Dynamics has announced that Jeffrey S. Geiger will succeed John F. Shipway as president of Bath Iron Works effective April 1, 2009. Geiger, who has been senior vice president of operations at Bath since March 2008, will report to David K. Heebner, executive vice president of Marine Systems at General Dynamics.
In announcing the transition, Heebner said, "Dugan Shipway, who is retiring, has been instrumental in transforming Bath Iron Works into one of the most efficient, productive shipyards in the United States. Since becoming president in 2003, he has implemented an aggressive effort to improve the processes and facilities at Bath, and has created an environment that encourages commitment and teamwork from a skilled workforce. We thank him for his service to General Dynamics, the Marine Systems Group and the people of Bath Iron Works. At the same time, we welcome Jeff Geiger to his new leadership position," Heebner said. "Jeff has worked at Bath Iron Works for nearly 25 years, and has been an integral part of the management team since 1993. Jeff understands the strengths of Bath Iron Works and its workforce, he understands naval shipbuilding and he understands our customers' expectations. I am confident Jeff will build on BIW's recent record of success as he leads Bath Iron Works into the future."
Geiger, 47, joined Bath Iron Works in 1984 as a production planner and since that time has advanced through a series of progressively more-responsible positions in production engineering, production control, manufacturing engineering, planning and quality assurance. In those positions, he has had responsibility for all engineering, design, material procurement, planning, quality control, strategic planning, communications and business development at the shipyard.
Geiger is a member of the executive control board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program and has served as a National Advisory Board member for the Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Department of the University of Michigan. He is also on the board of directors of the United Way of MidCoast Maine. Geiger is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in naval architecture.
John F. "Dugan" Shipway became president of Bath Iron Works in April 2003 and a vice president of General Dynamics in May 2003. He had been vice president of full submarine support for Electric Boat since May 2001 and was responsible for business development for its submarine maintenance and repair operation. Shipway joined General Dynamics in July 2000, as Electric Boat's director of special projects. Prior to joining the company, he served for 35 years in the U.S. Navy as a submarine officer and a military acquisition professional. In his last assignment, he was the director of the Navy's strategic systems programs. He retired from active duty in June 2000 as a rear admiral.
Bath Iron Works, a leader in surface combatant design and construction, employs approximately 5,600 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 30 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world, to the U.S. Navy. Four additional ships are currently under construction for delivery by 2011. Bath Iron Works is also building DDG 1000, the first ship in the Navy's new Zumwalt class of guided missile destroyers.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.
