Capt. Gilbert Clark commanded Arleigh Burke-class destroyer The Sullivans in 2016 and 2017, completing maintenance under budget and ahead of schedule. He now heads SURFGRU Southwest, overseeing 17 surface ships in San Diego, aimed at streamlining ship maintenance and basic training to prevent delays. Capt. Bryan Carmichael leads SURFGRU Mid Atlantic in Norfolk, with a similar goal and 10 ships currently under its command. Additional SURFGRUs have been established or are planned in Everett, WA; Mayport, FL; Pearl Harbor, HI; Yokosuka, Japan; Rota, Spain; and Manama, Bahrain.
Vice Adm. Brendan McLane emphasized the need for a new approach in ship maintenance, recognizing the importance of experienced leaders to guide emerging officers. SURFGRU commodores will provide mentorship and coaching to improve maintenance efficiency. Focus is on fewer maintenance delays, on-time and on-budget project completion, and mission capability of ships.
SURFGRUs will play multiple roles, not only overseeing maintenance and training but also serving as area commanders during emergencies. They will support deployed strike groups to troubleshoot and address challenges. This system aims to streamline ship maintenance globally and maintain operational readiness in the long term.
