(WASHINGTON) — The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) has appointed a new chairman and vice chairman of the SCA Partners Committee. Rob Stuardi of American Equity Underwriters in Mobile, Ala., and Mark Haller of Tri-Tec Manufacturing in Kent, Wash., will join the national trade association in advocating, communicating and representing the ship repair industry to all stakeholders and the U.S. Navy.
“Rob and Mark’s experience with our industry will be invaluable to the Partners Committee as we continue to grow membership and active participation among the shipbuilding industrial base from all corners of the country. Both Rob and Mark have a long-established a legacy of commitment to our vision, and we welcome them to their new positions,” said SCA President Matthew Paxton.
The SCA Partners Committee is charged with representing SCA’s shipyard supplier members and is made up of 11 members.
Stuardi joined American Equity Underwriters Inc. in 2010 and currently serves as vice president and managing director. Prior to joining AEU, he had extensive experience in workers’ compensation insurance and risk management practices as the director of sales, safety and loss control for a large property and casualty insurance company. Stuardi has also previously acted as assistant operations and loss control manager for a southeastern fuel distributor, and was responsible for loss control training for stevedoring, tug boats, and offshore supply boats for a large stevedoring company.
“I am looking forward to this opportunity and am eager to help lead the Shipbuilders Council of America on its mission while representing the shipbuilding and repair industry. We hope to grow SCA with increased membership and active participation so that we ensure our voice is heard not only nationwide but also globally,” said Stuardi.
Haller also brings extensive experience in the shipbuilding industry to his new role. He assumed his current role of president at Tri-Tec Manufacturing in 2006 where he is responsible for overseeing all operations and drives strategic business and product development. Under his leadership, Tri-Tec has since delivered more than 9000 fully First Article qualified units across all classes of surface combatants including the Sea Wolf and Virginia class submarines. In addition to his seasoned career at Tri-Tec Manufacturing, Haller has more than 43 years of valving and automation experience in the commercial, nuclear and defense markets. Continuing his long legacy of commitment to SCA, he will be focusing on cybersecurity on the Partners Committee.
“The shipbuilding and repair industry is critical to our country’s defense and homeland security,” said Haller. “I have immense respect for what our fellow shipbuilders are doing to repair, build, and modernize in this increasingly important industry. At SCA, we are increasing our focus on cybersecurity, and I look forward to working with the commitment to continued progress and results in that space.”
