The 16th Annual Ship Repair Digital LEGO Competition has officially launched! The purpose of the competition is to promote the ship repair industry while increasing competitive mathematical, analytical and conceptual skills in middle school aged students.

We need volunteers to serve as technical advisors and judges. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and represent your company, sponsorship opportunities are also available!

The 15th Annual Tradesperson of the Year Awards was held on November 16, 2021, during the VSRA General Membership Luncheon Meeting that took place at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. Each year, the Tradesperson of the Year Awards recognize the “best of the best” in Ship Repair. This year we had a total of 27 nominees, with 15 outstanding Junior and 12 Senior nominations. After votes were tallied in each category during the review of final results, a very close margin was recognized, leading the Judges Panel and VSRF Board to award Runners-Up for both the Junior and Senior Tradesperson of the Year.

The 25th Annual Safety & Health Seminar was held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, Chartway Arena, ODU.  This year's theme was "Stayin Alive Another 25." 

Last week, the Department of Defense announced a major overhaul to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. The nascent cybersecurity compliance program came under criticism from the defense industrial base (DIB) because of its extensive requirements and onerous penalties.

Today's labor market is filled with uncertainty due to the highest amounts of people quitting their jobs since 2008. The phenomenon we are witnessing right now is termed The Great Resignation.

With a staggering total of 4 million Americans deciding to leave their jobs, employers are looking for new and creative ways to retain good, quality people. Job seekers are holding the ball right now and they are starting to hold companies accountable for how they treat employees. Job seekers want more than just "a job"; they want careers that come with a good work-life balance, a livable wage, and meaningful incentives. 

Recently, we observed National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, marking 80 years since the date that, as FDR predicted, has lived in infamy. More than 2,400 Americans, including civilians, perished in the attack on Pearl Harbor and many military assets were lost. For those who were there and survived to tell their story, that day has lived on in a much different way. I had the distinct honor to meet, spend time with, and befriend 13 of those survivors. Those true patriots, members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Tidewater Chapter, worked to ensure that the memory of those killed and injured in the attacks endured. As members of the Navy community, it is the duty of all of us to ensure their simple creed lives on: Pearl Harbor – Never Forget.

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The December VSRA General Membership meeting will be held in-person at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel on Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 at 12:00 P.M. The speaker for the meeting will be VADM William (Bill) Galinis.