Please join us as docent David Nagel gives a presentation in the Wardroom on “13 Months to Mighty: How America Built the USS Hornet (CV-12) and Awakened the Sleeping Giant.”
Step inside the remarkable story of how the USS Hornet (CV-12) was built in just 13 months — a feat of speed, precision, and ingenuity that shocked the world. This talk uncovers how America’s wartime shipyards applied the very foundations of what we now call lean manufacturing as a strategy: eliminating waste, streamlining workflows, standardizing designs, and empowering a rapidly trained workforce — including thousands of women and minority workers — to deliver under impossible deadlines. See how innovation, preparation, and continuous improvement turned Admiral Yamamoto’s warning into history’s proof of the “sleeping giant” awakened.
Docent David Nagel Bio:
David F. Nagel is a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as an aircraft mechanic. Following his military service, he built a distinguished career in the aerospace industry, including serving as Production Manager for the Boeing 737 Next Generation and 737 programs. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt, David brings decades of expertise in aerospace operations and educational leadership. He currently serves as an Executive Director at the School For Independent Learners and volunteers as a docent on the USS Hornet. His combined military, industrial, and educational experience offers a unique perspective on the evolving role of aircraft carriers in both historical and modern contexts.
