VADM William Merz, USN(Ret) Joins the Senior Advisory Board of BMC
Cleveland, OH January 20, 2023
Bartlett Maritime Corporation is pleased to announce that VADM William (Bill) Merz, USN(Ret) has joined the company’s Senior Advisory Board, effective immediately.
The nation’s Submarine Industrial Base, which in the 1960’s consistently delivered a new submarine into service every 44 days while properly maintaining this rapidly growing fleet and as recently as the 1980’s delivered 5 new submarines into service per year while properly maintaining a Submarine Force of more than 100 submarines, is in the midst of a now-widely acknowledged and well understood capacity and capability crisis. There are many reports from various agencies detailing this crisis, summarized at https://www.bartlettmaritime.com/. In response, Bartlett Maritime Corporation is preparing to execute its immediately actionable, cost-effective public-private partnership proposal – The Bartlett Maritime Plan™ – to add the required capacity and capability to the Submarine Industrial Base. The company’s team includes an exceptionally well qualified team of senior leaders in both Naval shipbuilding & maintenance and in various key aspects of commercial industry on both the company’s Senior Advisory Board and the company’s senior operating staff. As a key next step in organizing for success, VADM Merz has joined the company’s Senior Advisory Board.
Vice Admiral William Merz, USN(Ret) brings unique perspective and customer needs awareness to Bartlett Maritime Corporation. A 1986 graduate of the US Naval Academy, VADM Merz recently retired from the position of Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. Previous flag tours include Command of the 7th Fleet and as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements. A career submariner, he was the last “594 Tough” submariner on active duty, having qualified as a junior officer in USS Haddo (SSN 604). He served as Engineer Officer in USS Boise (SSN 764) and commanded both research submarine NR-1 and USS Memphis (SSN 691). His command tour in Memphis resulted in winning both the DEVRON 12 Battle E and the Atlantic Fleet Battenburg Cup, reflecting his status as commanding the best ship in the Atlantic Fleet. He subsequently commanded DEVRON 12. VADM Merz also qualified as Surface Warfare Officer onboard USS Proteus (AS 19), where he served as Radiological Control Officer. Other tours include posting at Naval Reactors Headquarters and at the David Taylor Research Center, Carderock.
Commenting on this key addition to the company’s Senior Advisory Board, Bartlett Maritime Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer CAPT Edward Bartlett, noted “Admiral Merz is a key addition to our already broadly experienced Senior Advisory Board. We share our experiences serving and deploying both in the Radiological Controls (R-5) Division on ancient submarine tenders and as 594 Tough sailors, but, more importantly, we share a passion to see that the Navy’s Submarine Force is restored to full operational capacity, capability and readiness on the fastest possible schedule. I look forward to enjoying the benefits of his wisdom and sage advice as our company remains laser-focused on the objective.”
Company President and Chief Operating Officer Jacqueline D. O’Brien added, “I look forward to having another senior submariner join our Senior Advisory Board. This will help us to always reflect the customer perspective in our internal evaluations and planning. On a personal basis, I look forward to both enjoying his insight and in further understanding the nuances of how our customer operates at the most senior levels.”
VADM Merz joins ADM Frank “Skip” Bowman, USN(Ret), Mr. John W. (Bill) Shirley, SES(Ret), Mr. Richard Burkhart, Mr. Bob Hogue, and Mr. Renold Thompson, Jr. on the Senior Advisory Board. Each Senior Advisory Board member brings unique capabilities and perspectives to the company, providing key senior counsel, strategic and tactical advice to company operating executives. This Senior Advisory Board input also is used by the company Board of Directors in setting company policy and direction.