Navy Director of Submarine Programs Visits Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher reviews submarine maintenance and innovation efforts at the shipyard.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:25pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone shipyard worker in a dimly lit workshop, focused intently on their work on a submarine component, the scene bathed in warm, dramatic lighting and deep shadows that evoke a sense of quiet determination and technical expertise.The skilled technicians at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard work diligently to maintain and repair the Navy's vital submarine fleet, leveraging new technologies to accelerate critical repair timelines.Portsmouth Today

Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, the director of submarine programs for the U.S. Navy, visited Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on March 30 to meet with shipyard leadership and review the status of current submarine maintenance and repair projects, as well as recent technological innovations being implemented at the facility.

Why it matters

As one of the Navy's primary submarine maintenance and repair hubs, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard plays a critical role in ensuring the readiness of the U.S. submarine fleet. Gaucher's visit highlights the importance of the shipyard's work and the Navy's focus on leveraging technology and advanced manufacturing to accelerate submarine repair and upgrade timelines.

The details

During his visit, Gaucher met with Capt. Jesse Nice, the shipyard commander, Capt. Jason Deichler, the commodore of Submarine Squadron 2, and Stephen Fahey, the nuclear engineering and planning manager. They discussed the status of current submarine maintenance and repair projects, as well as the shipyard's efforts to implement new technologies and manufacturing techniques to improve efficiency and speed.

  • Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher visited Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on March 30, 2026.

The players

Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher

The director of submarine programs for the U.S. Navy.

Capt. Jesse Nice

The commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Capt. Jason Deichler

The commodore of Submarine Squadron 2.

Stephen Fahey

The nuclear engineering and planning manager at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

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What they’re saying

“It's great to see the advances that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is applying. Leveraging technology and additive manufacturing will allow the Navy to move quicker with repair.”

— Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, Director of Submarine Programs

What’s next

The Navy will continue to work closely with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to implement new technologies and manufacturing techniques to improve the efficiency and speed of submarine maintenance and repair.

The takeaway

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's role in maintaining and repairing the U.S. submarine fleet is critical to the Navy's readiness and capabilities. The shipyard's embrace of new technologies and advanced manufacturing methods is helping the Navy accelerate submarine repair timelines and deliver these vital assets back to the fleet more quickly.