In the ever-evolving landscape of the Defense Industry, the U.S. Navy is taking bold steps to ensure the future readiness of its submarine fleet with its new Talent Pipeline Program — a strategic initiative designed to build and sustain a robust domestic defense workforce. This program, although spearheaded by the Navy, extends its benefits across the entire defense industrial base, emphasizing its importance for small to medium-sized companies.
Addressing a Critical Need
The Navy estimates that it will require approximately 150,000 new personnel in U.S. manufacturing by 2028 to build and maintain its submarine fleet. This need underscores the scale of the challenge and the critical need for a concerted effort to meet the growing demands of the defense sector.
A Strategic Approach to Talent Acquisition
Launched around 2021, the Talent Pipeline Program aims to streamline and enhance the processes of recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining talent within the Defense Industry. One key component of the program is the value stream mapping of these processes within participating companies. This value stream mapping, typically conducted in a few hours, identifies areas for improvement and helps businesses optimize their talent management strategies.
Focus on Retention
Research indicates that if a company can retain an employee for at least one year, the likelihood of long-term retention increases dramatically. Therefore, the program emphasizes strategies to keep new hires engaged and productive beyond this critical first year.
Comprehensive Support
The program’s support is multifaceted. It includes hands-on assistance with the value stream mapping process, insights into best practices for talent acquisition and retention, and ongoing support to implement these practices effectively. The program also leverages a network of resources, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, to ensure a steady supply of skilled candidates.
A Collaborative Effort
The Navy Talent Pipeline Program is not just about meeting the Navy’s needs. It’s a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the entire Defense Industrial Base. By participating in this program, small and medium-sized companies can enhance their capacity to contribute to national defense while also benefiting from improved talent acquisition and retention processes.
At Bowden Manufacturing, we’re excited to announce our participation in the Navy Talent Pipeline Program, a strategic initiative designed to bolster the maritime defense workforce. By integrating the program’s value stream mapping and best practices into our recruiting process, we aim to streamline our hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies. This collaboration will not only help us meet the growing demands of the defense sector but will also enhance our operational capabilities. Bowden Manufacturing has long been committed to attracting and retaining top talent through our Manufacturing Next Gen Program, and we believe that this initiative will help us take that commitment even further as we build a team equipped to support the U.S. Navy’s critical missions and contribute to the national Defense Industrial Base. We encourage our fellow small and medium Defense Industrial Base manufacturing companies to leverage the assistance that the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program provides so that together we can build the workforce our country needs.
