The Navy command in charge of ship construction, repair and modernization efforts at private shipyards in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama changed hands here March 31.

Capt. Brian D. Lawrence relieved Capt. Joseph M. Tuite as Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast (SSGC) in a ceremony at the Ocean Springs Civic Center.

"I couldn't be more proud of the SSGC team for the great work they have done in order to get our ships delivered to the fleet on time, on budget and with the quality of workmanship that our warfighters need," said Tuite. "It has been my pleasure to lead this workforce behind the fleet."

Tuite departs SSGC after having assumed command in March 2014. His next assignment will be as commanding officer, SUPSHIP, Bath, Maine.

Lawrence, a native of Toronto, Ohio, previously served at SSGC in Pascagoula, Mississippi, as program manager's representative for the DDG 51 program and large deck amphibious program (LHA 6) in 2008. He assumed the position of executive officer and deputy supervisor for operations in October 2014.

Lawrence's previous assignments include tours as deck division officer and electrical officer aboard USS Santa Barbara (AE 28), project manager at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, South Carolina, assistant project superintendent for the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Parche (SSN 683) overhauls, project superintendent for Sea Shadow (IX 529) and duties as regional diving officer for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Lawrence has also served as program manager and salvage engineer on various projects, including the reefing of ex-Oriskany (CV 34). He has also completed a staff tour as an action officer, Fleet Readiness Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington.

Lawrence is a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, and he earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

A field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, SUPSHIP Gulf Coast oversees the design and construction of six U.S. Navy ship classes at private shipyards in Pascagoula, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama.


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