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Powell Visits Naval Shipyard During Tour Through Coastal Mississippi

Release Date: August 23, 2007

For Immediate Release  
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: (GCR) Evan McLaughlin, (202) 380-8800

(Pascagoula, Miss.) - During a series of meetings in coastal Mississippi, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, Donald E. Powell, toured the Northrop-Grumman shipyard in Pascagoula   Chairman Powell met with employees who had lost homes and suffered as a result of Katrina.

Chairman Powell highlighted the ongoing progress of the shipyard as critical to the long-term recovery of the Mississippi and America's vital national security interests.

"During my time in Pascagoula I saw highly skilled and patriotic employees overcoming vast personal hardships to accomplish their professional mission.  I was inspired by their personal stories, their sense of community for one another and their unwavering focus on their personal contribution to our nation's security."

Powell was joined on his visit to Northrop Grumman by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs, Allison Stiller and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems President Philip Teel.

Hurricane Katrina had tremendous impacts on the Northrop Grumman facility, the community and the huge indirect impacts on the United States Navy. The resilience and determination of the employees, coupled with comprehensive employee assistance provided by Northrop Grumman, helped the shipyard overcome long-term delays and maintain focus on timely production of U.S. Navy vessels.

In addition to touring the shipyard in Pascagoula, Chairman Powell met with local officials including Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr. 

For the last twenty-two months, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining various components of the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to local leaders, and reinforcing the federal government's commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast.

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This page was last modified on August 23, 2007