2025 Awardees

Charles Erickson

for exemplary contributions to the construction of our submarines and our industrial infrastructure.

Mr. Erickson is part of the Moog team responsible for educating and training the next generation of the submarine workforce. He was the driving force in developing the training curriculum, specifying tools and equipment, and delivering hands-on training to 10 entry level individuals as Finisher/Deburr workers. His dedication was demonstrated by providing hands-on training 4 evenings a week for 12 weeks, after working his full shift at Moog. Upon completion of the program, all 10 students were hired into the workforce. Mr. Erickson has worked as Manufacturing Engineer overseeing the UK and Americas for finished products where he conducted training at over 100 different companies within our submarine supply chain. He traveled often, at great personal sacrifice, to get the job done! As Technical Coordinator he leads a team of 12 with outstanding success. Outside of work, Mr. Erickson has regularly visited high schools to participate in STEM programs.

Charles Erickson is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Workforce Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Kyle Fusher

for exemplary contributions to the construction of our submarines and our industrial infrastructure.

Mr. Fusher joined Oceaneering International after an enlistment in the Navy. He quickly made an impact during the first installation of a Towed Communications Buoy installation on USS COLUMBIA. He was a key participant in successfully accomplishing a complex fit up with very tight tolerances. During a fitup requiring precision machining shipboard, the Project Manager requested Mr. Fusher by name. Working extended hours, his expertise was critical to formulating and executing the plan. Mr. Fusher was directly responsible for the quick recovery of the project. Mr. Fusher was again specifically requested for work on USS MAINE. He was the lead on refining the plan, which led to the completion of this project one week ahead of schedule and well under budget. It was a team effort, but of the entire team, he was the one individual who was singularly the most important. He did the machining quickly and correctly. His expertise has contributed to several other projects including completing the assembly of a Hydraulic Power Unit and other actions for the Dry Deck Shelter program.

Kyle Fusher is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Workforce Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Juan Rodriguez

for exemplary contributions to the construction of our submarines and our industrial infrastructure.

Mr. Rodriguez exemplifies craftsmanship and technical excellence in his trade as a Pipefitter at General Dynamics – Electric Boat, contributing directly to the construction and sustainment of our submarines. His standout performance began in 2024 with the USS IOWA where his keen attention to detail earned him a reputation as the “go-to person” during all phases of testing and certification conducted by the Shipyard Test Organization (STO). During this project, he supported hydraulic systems testing on various components, including Weapons Shipping/Handling Hydraulics, Torpedo Tube Hydraulic, VPT Hydraulics, and High-Pressure Air. Mr. Rodriguez’s expertise was crucial in strengthening the project teams for USS RICKOVER and USS HARTFORD. His exceptional skills played a vital role in the routine post-shakedown availability (PSA) work, which included high-level condensate and feed redesign for the Pipe Shop on USS RICKOVER, as well as specialty work on USS HARTFORD.

Juan then joined the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) IDAHO New Construction team, where he utilized his expertise to advance the delivery date to December 2025.

Juan Rodriguez is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Workforce Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Taylor Schroeder

for exemplary contributions to the construction of our submarines and our industrial infrastructure.

Mr. Schroeder is a standout contributor to the Strategic Systems Programs (SP30) Integrated Nuclear Weapons Safety & Security Program, having served as the Waterfront Restricted Area Lead at Kings Bay, Georgia. In this critical role, he provided oversight of the maintenance and sustainment of the Electronic Security System, ensuring the security of nuclear weapons at the Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic. Beyond his leadership at WRA, Taylor provided essential support to Nuclear Weapons Security engineering projects, Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines, and Strategic Weapons Systems shore facility and trainer upgrades. His role as a Critical Skills Trainer for Nuclear Weapons Security further underscored his impact. One of his most significant achievements was his role in reducing system alarm traffic by over 75%, reflecting his strategic foresight, system insight, and commitment to process improvement. At SWFLANT, Taylor served as a cable production shop fabricator in the Inert Component Control Building, where he supported Trident missile cable manufacturing. His skill and attention to detail played a critical role in meeting production schedules and maintaining SWFLANT’s zero-defect mission assurance standard.

Mr. Taylor Schroeder is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Workforce Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Devin Stiegerwalt

for exemplary contributions to the construction of our submarines and our industrial infrastructure.

As a Machinist at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Systems, Mr. Steigerwalt quickly progressed through the machinist ranks to become a Set Up Machinist, excelling at every level. During his time as a weldment machinist and setup machinist, he was the lead machinist on a team that transitioned two Virgina Class rod control cabinet weldments and one Columbia Class rod control cabinet weldment to a new technologically advanced four axis horizontal machining center. Devin’s inputs into the work holding, cutting tool selection, probing implementation, and overall machining approach were instrumental in reducing machining times of these weldments by up to 33%, which will reduce cost and schedule for these tasks. Mr. Steigerwalt has also instituted new work holding stabilization techniques using magnetic clamping for certain Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Hardware Building Blocks cabinet machining, reducing machining times. As a setup machinist, he took on leadership roles, devoting a significant amount of time developing the skills of other machinists in weldment machining methodology as well as teaching entry level machinists the basics of efficient setups and part verification.

Mr. Steigerwalt is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Workforce Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Nicholas "Nick" Wobser

for exemplary contributions to the construction of our submarines and our industrial infrastructure.

Mr. Wobser, a nuclear pipe welder at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding, has demonstrated precision, consistency, and craftsmanship over his career. His strict accuracy ensured that every weld supported the extreme quality required on a submarine and its nuclear components. His exceptionally low x-ray reject rate is a testament to his skill and commitment to first-time quality. A self-taught welder, Mr. Wobser has proven himself to be a natural talent who has honed his skills through hard work, diligence, and an unwavering attention to detail. He thrives under pressure, often working to sensitive timelines, yet consistently produces smooth, quick, and meticulous welds that are repeatedly recognized by his supervisors. As a mentor, he has trained and guided numerous young welders through the program, generously sharing his knowledge and experience to help shape the next generation of talent. His combination of technical excellence, mentorship, humility, and his leadership by example have set a high standard in both quality and character.

Mr. Wobser is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Workforce Stars Award for Outstanding Achievement.