BLOG
POST

PFSM Educates Students on Trade Industry Jobs

Jul 29, 2024

In an effort to educate high school students about potential job opportunities in trade skills that could support careers in Hawaii’s maritime industry, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum hosted 60 students from Honolulu Community College’s (HCC) Summer CTE Academy earlier this month.

Open to all high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recently graduated seniors, the Summer CTE Academy is a five-week exploratory summer program that offers students the opportunity to experience various career and technical education programs offered at Honolulu Community College. The high school age students met with Pearl Harbor naval shipyard officials and other organizations to learn about potential opportunities in the maritime industry, using virtual reality technology to replicate shipyard work. Academy students also had an opportunity to tour the USS Bowfin submarine and adjacent museum.

“There is a high demand for skilled workers at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and in Hawaii’s maritime industry, said Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum executive director Chuck Merkel. “We want to help develop local students for good paying jobs here that will allow them to stay home, rather than relocating elsewhere.”

 

 

Starting last month as the new executive director of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, Andrew “Homer” Ring acknowledges the legacy of the USS Bowfin submarine and the brave men and women that she honors.

“As a former Navy submariner being asked to lead this esteemed submarine museum is just an incredible privilege,” said Ring, who takes over for Charles “Chuck” Merkel after serving as museum director for nine years. “We at the museum understand the huge role and responsibility in honoring all submariners for their service and sacrifice.”

 

Ring brings over 28 years of leadership experience from a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a submariner and a senior officer worldwide. Most recently, he was the Chief Staff Officer at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam located next door to the submarine museum, managing more than 4,300 personnel and overseeing $22 billion in infrastructure, as well as a $250 million annual budget.

Throughout his career, Homer led complex operations and large teams, from commanding the fast-attack submarine USS Houston and the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land to managing major construction projects and global undersea surveillance programs. His background also includes work in national security, counterterrorism, and global strategic planning.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Homer holds multiple advanced degrees in fields including national security, engineering management, and liberal studies. He was also a Federal Executive Fellow at Harvard University, where he studied Chinese foreign policy.

“I’ve always been fascinated with military history,” he said. “There are so many courageous and powerful stories of our U.S. submariners throughout history that have been told and yet to be told, and we are excited in providing that opportunity to our museum visitors.”

We look forward to the vision, discipline, and innovation that Homer will bring as he leads PFSM into an exciting new chapter. Welcome aboard!

.

MORE TO VIEW