Presentation: Keeping the Ship Afloat and Stakeholders Onboard: Tactical Balance during an Overhaul
Abstract: This report explores stakeholder management strategies and the soft skills that are essential for port engineers during a ship overhaul.
A government port engineer is one who ensures the completion of annual maintenance, repair and modernization projects on the vessel assigned to them. To accomplish this task, the vessel enters an overhaul period, which has a specific list of work and a predetermined budget. During the overhaul, the port engineer is responsible for its success and managing the needs and expectations of various stakeholders.
An overhaul involves numerous stakeholders, such as the sponsor, regulatory bodies, technical warrant holders, the shipyard (contractor), the contracting officer and the ship’s crew. Each stakeholder is actively engaged throughout the various stages of the overhaul. Multiple stakeholders have the authority to make decisions that positively or negatively affect the project. The port engineer’s ability to management the stakeholders is instrumental in ensuring the success of the overhaul.
PMI Talent Triangle: Technical Project Management
Biography: Angela Owens Waller is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 20 years of experience in the marine industry. Mrs. Waller is currently a senior engineer in the Business
Analytics and Policy section at Military Sealift Command (MSC). Her responsibilities include ensuring engineering policies and procedures are effective by establishing key performance parameters, analyzing data and providing process improvement recommendations. Since joining MSC, she has shared her project management knowledge by giving an Emotional Intelligence TED TALK, developing a Post Overhaul Analysis course curriculum for port engineers and
conducting a hands-on Project Management Fundamentals Training for multi-disciplined employees. She also initiated a PMP study group and a customized study plan to encourage co-workers to take the PMP exam.
Prior to MSC, Angela was a technical warrant holder for the United States Coast Guard’s Engineering Logistics Center in Baltimore, MD. She developed acquisition specifications for the Project Office and provided policy guidance to the fleet. In addition, she planned and monitored the performance of multiple complex engineering projects to meet mission requirements. During her tenure at the Coast Guard, she obtained a M.S in Project Management and a Program Management certificate from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Mrs. Waller also worked as an Electrical Engineer at Northrop Grumman- Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) in Virginia just after earning a B.S. Electrical Engineering from Morgan State University. At NNS, Mrs. Waller designed surveillance systems on newly constructed aircraft carriers. She also assisted in the transformation from legacy design drawings to 2D and 3D modeling.
She believes it is imperative to mentor others while striving toward her own career goals. In 2008, she received the DoD Science Engineering Technology and Math (STEM) Role Model Award. In the past, she served as the Society of Women Engineers Region E Governor, Lt. Governor and Hampton Roads Section President. In these roles, she revitalized multiple sections. She also strengthened the organization's relationship with collegiate sections by successfully establishing an e-mentoring program.
Angela’s other passion is serving her community as a Girl Scouts of USA troop leader for over 15 years. She strives to provide a girl-led environment where girls can discover themselves, connect with the others, and take action to make the world a better place through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. She enjoys empowering girls to lead activities, learn by doing, and cooperate with others on current issues that involve their interests.
