BlueForge Alliance Addresses America’s Urgent Need for Next-Gen Submarines

Nonprofit launches comprehensive effort to strengthen the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base

BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, Texas – BlueForge Alliance today announced that the recently-formed nonprofit is working in direct support of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base to address the urgent demand for submarine supply chain capability, capacity and workforce required to build and sustain America’s sea-based strategic deterrence.

“We are part of an incredibly important mission to guarantee a capable and enduring undersea presence,” said Whitney Jones, Submarine Industrial Base director. “We are facing a rapidly changing global landscape and evolving threats to national security, and success is measured in our ability to act with speed, flexibility, and scale. Partnerships like those with BlueForge Alliance help us directly address these challenges and will be critical to positioning us for success as we move forward on significant ‘Whole of Government, Whole of industry’ efforts.”

The U.S. Navy recently outlined a once-in-a-generation journey to recapitalize its submarine force structure, which includes building one Columbia Class, and two Virginia Class submarines each year over the next decade. The SIB, which is made up of the two prime shipbuilders and more than 16,000 national suppliers across the country, is facing a 5x increase in workload and numerous headwinds to successfully meet that demand signal. Over the next 10 years, an estimated 100,000 workforce members across critical manufacturing trades are needed to successfully build the U.S. Navy’s next-gen submarine fleet. The magnitude of this challenge requires holistic and differentiating efforts and investments, including the rapid scale of advanced manufacturing technologies, and the deployment of a national communications strategy to align people to the mission. In addition, the SIB will look to optimize manufacturing by developing cutting-edge processes and applying new technology.

BFA was formed in the fall of 2022 as the SIB’s nonprofit integrator to directly assist in overcoming these obstacles. BFA, chartered to revitalize the capability, capacity, and resilience of the industrial base, employs experts in workforce development, manufacturing, technology, economic development, defense, government, marketing and communications.

“The SIB is essential to the security and economic strength of our country, and we are very proud and humbled to support its growth and modernization through our efforts,” said Kiley Wren, BlueForge Alliance co-founder and co-chief executive. “By developing a new generation of highly skilled workers and investing in modern manufacturing techniques, together with our partners, we can ensure the United States remains a leader in submarine production for years to come while providing stable, well-paying jobs here in America.”

As a unifying entity, BFA is focused on creating networks, partnerships, and consortiums in key areas like industrial base workforce and technology. BFA is the owner and operator of BuildSubmarines.com, a central hub connecting site visitors to the submarine/Navy mission, jobseekers with employer opportunities, trainees with state/regional training pipelines, and employers with a repository of interested workforce candidates.

BFA and its partners are responsible for collaborating with industry and community leaders across the nation who support the defense manufacturing sector, and to build an ecosystem approach that is customized to and connected across maritime centers of gravity. These efforts range from implementing and expanding trades training pipelines, to attracting and recruiting next generation workforce members through a national marketing campaign, to working with industry and academic experts to deploy and scale advanced manufacturing technologies including additive manufacturing, automation, and robotics. Such practices are crucial to increasing production capability and capacity across the country.

“Our nation depends on the American manufacturer. BlueForge Alliance is committed to ensuring that American manufacturing is primed to support national security priorities, and to engaging and partnering with the industrial base in unprecedented ways to ensure our responsibility to our Navy and nation,” said Rob Gorham, co-founder and co-chief executive at BlueForge Alliance.

About BlueForge Alliance

BlueForge Alliance (BFA) is the national nonprofit, neutral integrator whose mission is to reinvigorate the U.S. defense industrial base necessary to produce next generation capabilities in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. BFA is a critical partner in the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base’s mission to ensure industry has the capability, capacity, and resilience to build and maintain America’s next generation of undersea platforms and to support international commitments under the AUKUS partnership. The organization’s team of experts in a variety of disciplines focus on addressing critical workforce, technology, and supplier development needs. BFA is headquartered in Bryan/College Station, Texas. For more information, visit www.BlueForgeAlliance.us.

About the Submarine Industrial Base

The submarine industrial base is a vital part of the United States’ national security. For decades, this skilled and patriotic group of industry partners have provided critical components, products and services to ensure the design, construction, maintenance and modernization of the U.S. Navy submarine fleet. The millions of hands that ultimately build these great vessels hail from every state in the country, and a vast network of over 16,000 suppliers that range from small, family-owned businesses to vast shipbuilders. The industrial base’s dedication to the mission and continued innovation have enabled the Navy to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate needs, providing a strategic advantage and a fundamental differentiator in the defense of the nation.