I025 - Submission for Russell Egnor Media Awards - Writing - Feature - Michael Brayshaw, NNSY Lead Public Affairs Specialist - Tool Fixtures - Released 9/1/14

1. 10 Service to the Fleet, September 2014
N
orfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Tool Control
Manager Laura Herrin knows she’s part of
something remarkable. Not only is she part
of three generations that have worked in NNSY Tool
Control, but three generations of women.
Interestingly, all were hired for other positions at
the shipyard. At a time women on the waterfront were
few and far between, Dora Walters was hired as a
Boilermaker in 1976. Eventually injuring her hand,
she transferred to Tool Control. Her daughter Laura
Herrin started at NNSY in 1987 as a Painter Helper
and worked several different positions before joining
Tool Control. Herrin’s daughter Jessica Younger
started as a Laborer June 30 and was transferred to
Tool Control along with several other Laborers.
The sense of pride and purpose courses through the
generations. Four of Walters’ five children followed
Mom’s footsteps through the shipyard gates, with two
still here—her son, John Worrel, is a 32-year shipyard
veteran currently serving as Rigging Zone Manager on
USS Albany (SSN 753).
Tool Fixtures
Three generations of women in NNSY’s Tool Control
By Michael Brayshaw
NNSY Lead Public Affairs Specialist
“Mom had such a strong work ethic, and
always talked about what a great place this is,”
said Herrin. “She was always at work. She came
into [the shipyard] during the blizzard of 1980.
She pushed us all to excel. The shipyard has
been a part of our lives almost all our lives.”
Even today, at 77 years old, Walters fondly
looks back at her time at NNSY. “I enjoyed the
shipyard,” she said. “It was interesting.”
During her decade in Tool Control, Walters input
tool report data and tracked delinquent returns.
This put her in a unique position to monitor her
shipyard children.
“Mom used to call us to make sure we weren’t
on the delinquent list. She’d say, ‘you better
return your tools!’” said Herrin.
Recalling a highlight in her varied shipyard
career, Herrin said, “When I first went to the
Tool Control office, it was coincidentally, the
same space my mom was in—the same desk
and the same phone number! That was definitely
different and real surreal.”
Describing the significance of Tool
Control, Herrin said, “I feel that,
Dora Walters and her daughter, Laura Herrin.

2. Service to the Fleet, September 2014 11
without the tools [to work on them],
those ships are not going to go back out.
I feel like my team is responsible for every
piece of work done in the shipyard. I have
lots of pride in having a great team. It’s a
collective effort.”
Now taking part in that collective effort
is Younger. She joined NNSY June 30
as a Laborer, a job recently reestablished
at the shipyard. Younger was amongst
the 10 folks issued to Code 960’s Shop
56, which Group Superintendent Kenny
Swinson provided to Tool Control given
its personnel
needs. Now in
Tool Control’s
Safety Section,
Younger performs
inspections as
part of “the first
line of defense” in
keeping waterfront
workers safe.
“We do
respirators, hard
hats, anything
safety related. It’s
really important,”
said Younger.
She recalls that
for years her mom “was wanting me to get in the
shipyard. I was like, ‘eh, I don’t want to! No, no, no.’ I
was young. I really loved what I did. I was originally a
dog groomer for a small business, but the shop started
going under.”
With two children to support and her mother’s
repeated suggestions echoing in her ears, Younger
needed a steady business, like one that’s been open for
247 years. Her thoughts on the shipyard now? “I love
it! I should have done it sooner.”
Tim Gregory, Nuclear Tool Room supervisor,
has worked in Tool Control for 35 years and has
now known all three generations. Reflecting on a
characteristic they all share, he recalls, “One thing
Dora used to do was run a daily report and she would
catch every mistake that the tool people would make.
That phone would ring at 8 o’clock every morning.
She would catch everything, and I see that same
quality they all have.”
There’s even a chance that the family legacy in
Tool Control will continue to expand. Younger has
two daughters, prompting Worrel to joke about “four
generations” working in the department. It seems their
mom would be okay with that.
“I feel a lot of pride, being here with my family,”
said Younger.
Dora Walters
Jessica Younger and her mother, Laura Herrin.
(Photo by Shanyne Hensley, Shipyard Photographer)
Illustration by
Chris Watt, Code 1160