LCDR Dennis L. Richardson, USN
Claud A. Jones Award
2016
Recipient:
LCDR Dennis L. Richardson, USN
Reason: for his significant contribution to naval engineering as set forth in the following
CITATION:
LCDR Dennis L. Richardson has made significant contributions to enhancing fleet and material readiness through support of Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) while onboard USS San Antonio (LPD 17) from September 2013 to June 2014 and management of Atlantic’s only LCAC Fleet Maintenance Activity (FMA) from July 2014 to September 2016. An exceptional leader in engineering, maintenance, and repair, his combined technical skill and innovative ideas to provide organizational, intermediate, and depot-level maintenance and repair to 35 LCAC in support of Amphibious Striking Force capability for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and Commander, Naval Beach Group TWO.
He ensured excellence in LCAC missions and considered ‘perfection’ as the standard when it came to contributing to combat missions around the globe. The LCAC have experience many operational successes during the past three years and maintained excellent records of achievement, while deploying to FIFTH and SIXTH Fleets in support of Global Expeditionary Operations and participation in numerous multi-national and coalition exercises.
LCDR Richardson led the LCAC FMA team to achieve excellence by recognizing opportunities, understanding and eliminating true constraints, improving processes and maximizing available resources. He created an environment for success by developing specialists, managing their resources and improving their processes – focusing on the tenets of timeliness, quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Through his efforts, the LCAC FMA executed 450,000 production hours and saved over $26.4 million in contractor cost avoidance for depot maintenance requirements for fiscal year 2016. Most noteworthy is the authorship and reorganization of Assault Craft Unit FOUR’s maintenance philosophy; realigning manpower and resources encompassing 600 Sailors on sea and shore duty. His efforts are further validated by the high level of materiel and combat readiness for deployed LCAC and their ability to meet Operational Commander’s tasking, which resulted in an elevated LCAC readiness from 38% to 72% in eight months, the highest recorded in ten years. His implementation of innovations and repair strategies, intrusive leadership, improved quality assurance procedures and processes across various disciplines increased efficiency. Throughout the past three years, his unwavering determination, steadfast devotion and dedication to maintenance excellence, has exceeded all professional and performance expectations.
Lieutenant Commander Dennis L. Richardson’s unparalleled accomplishments, dedication to process improvement, and selfless dedication to the mission and people make him highly deserving of the Society’s 2016 Claud A. Jones Award for superior performance in fleet engineering.