Bill Clifford, president of Norfolk-based BAE Systems Ship Repair, has received the prestigious Frank C. Jones Award, presented by the American Society of Naval Engineers. Clifford was honored by his peers today at the annual Fleet Maintenance and Modernization Symposium held in Virginia Beach.
The annual award recognizes leaders in naval engineering who have substantially and significantly contributed to ship maintenance and alteration programs for naval vessels.
Prior to joining BAE Systems, Clifford spent more than 20 years in the private sector serving in senior management positions at several shipyards. From 2001 to 2005, he was a managing partner of Pacific Shipyards International, LLC, a Hawaii consortium of Honolulu Shipyard, Inc. and Honolulu Marine, Inc. He also served as vice president of new construction at Atlantic Marine in Jacksonville, Fla., and director of ship completion at Bath Iron Works, Maine.
“Bill’s strong leadership demonstrates his commitment to employees, customers, colleagues and industry,” said Dave Herr, president of BAE Systems Support Solutions. “His broad experience and presence within the industry has helped shape the ship repair and modernization business. Bill is a most deserving recipient of the Frank C. Jones Award.”
Clifford served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, including tours on the USS Wallace L. Lind, the USS Ault, the USS Fairfax County and the USS Papago, where he was the commanding officer. He is a 1969 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Navy’s Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.