SHIP PRODUCTION PANEL CHAIR

LARRY GEBHARDT

Crosscut Initiatives

Dr. Gebhardt is Director, Research and Development for Alaska Ship and Drydock, Inc. (ASD).  ASD constructs and repairs vessels that operate in Alaska waters. The company is implementing a $77 million expansion and improvement initiative. He serves as Chair, Crosscut Initiatives Panel, National Shipbuilding Research Program, elected by industry peers since 2003. This Panel coordinates applied R&D and professional development related to shipyard workforce recruiting and retention, education and training, organization development and culture change, and technology transfer methods to align technical and human functions in shipyards.

Prior to his work at ASD, he was one of the founding management team for SENESCO Marine, a commercial shipyard in Rhode Island. The company produces and repairs ocean-going tugs and tank barges. SENESCO was started to provide employment to former defense industry workers. Prior to shipyard work, he served a 26 year active duty Navy career in five nuclear submarines including 5 years command at sea. He served at US Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Idaho Falls as the S1W Prototype Training Officer, as Director of Strategic Weapons Department at US Naval Submarine School, and Operations Faculty, US Naval War College.  He served as Current Operations Officer, US Naval Forces, Europe during the first Gulf War era and as Executive Assistant, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Atomic Energy). He retired as a Navy Captain (O6).

A graduate of the University of Utah, he holds a BS Electrical Engineering degree.  Subsequently he earned a MA Adult Education from University of Rhode Island, and Ph.D. in Human and Organization Systems from Fielding Graduate University. He serves as Adjunct Faculty, College of Business, Idaho State University with focus on new product development and quality and productivity management. He is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and American Society for Engineering Management.