The Office of Special Counsel has announced that it
passed on a report to the President and Congress
following an investigation substantiating a Navy
civilian’s allegations that unqualified welders “had
improperly welded catapult hydraulic piping systems
on the Navy aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.”
Catapults are used to launch aircraft from a ship’s
short runway, and while the Navy found the incorrect
welds would not likely lead to critical failure, it
didn’t rule out the possibility.
The report said similar welds were found on five other
aircraft carriers during a 2003 investigation, again
at the prompting of welder Kristin Shott.
Navy investigators found similar defective welds on the
USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Constellation, USS Nimitz,
and the USS John C. Stennis, and on the jet blast
deflector cylinder vent piping on the USS Carl Vinson,
OSC said.
After transmitting Shott’s claims to the Secretary of
the Navy, the Navy inspector general investigated and
found that one integrated electronics systems mechanic
was soldering with a lapsed certification and both he
and his supervisor knew about it – the IG also found
that the electronic system used to track employee
certification was deficient.
The Navy report said it completed repairs to the Kitty
Hawk last November, and that NADEP NI management has
taken disciplinary action against the mechanic and is
planning to discipline the supervisor.
However, Shott reportedly has filed a reprisal complaint
saying she has been denied supervisory promotion and is
no longer working on critical welds.
