Denzel Thomas
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Norfolk,VA
Summary
Seasoned professional in rigging and lifting operations with hands-on expertise in crane, hoist, and pulley usage. Delivers safety and precision in high-stakes environments while supporting team collaboration. Drives reliable results through strong problem-solving and effective communication, consistently upholding high standards.
1
Certification
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Nuclear Rigger
8 Years 9 Months- As a stand-in supervisor, I conducted meetings to establish communications between senior management, multiple trades, technical codes for the purpose of understanding future work coordination.
- Established rapport with team members and consumers to foster effective collaboration and communication.
- Identified and mitigated risks, effectively communicating these to the team during pre-shift and pre-job briefings.
- Curated surveillance (monitors), DLs, DRs, and RDRs as well as reviewed TGI’s, TWD’s, JPS, Complex Lifts.
- As a stand-in supervisor, I am able to plan the job from cradle to grave. Ensuring that the job has been assigned with the required qualifications. Give direct understanding to them to solidify the plan of action. Then conduct a post job brief to review work completed by employees.
- As a stand-in supervisor, I explain to the team ORM and the importance of it as well as forceful team backup.
- Ensured employee development by mentoring experienced mechanics, facilitating qualification processes, and assessing their trade knowledge.
- As a stand-in supervisor, I utilize LHAP 11, 59, 66. Also have knowledge on the use of UTMS, ATMS, Waypoints, SUPDESK (HITKIT), P307, Chapter 14-A-1, CLHM, LHMS 2.0, Project C-1, AIM, EP, view job progress, durations needed/taken, plan upcoming work depending on schedule.
- Monitored the progress of multiple projects to ensure timely completion and documented man-hour breakdown for reporting.
- Contributed to supervisor, general foreman, and surveillance meetings to enhance communication and alignment on project objectives.
- Trained, supervised, and provided oversight to apprentices and newly hired mechanics to work in verbatim compliance with technical drawings, blueprint reading, TWD, and TGI. As well as inspecting the completed work quality and other standards.
- Chair safety meetings during in-process work assignments and implement lessons learned.
- As a nuclear worker on the emergent fly-away team, I assisted different naval vessels assigned to both atlantic, pacific, and mideast fleets. (Bahrain, Italy, Scotland, Japan, Kso, and Kings bay)
- Conducted morning briefs and set expectations for employees and tabletops.
- Always made 1st time quality, safety first, nuclear fundamentals, verbatim compliance paramount.
- As a nuclear radiation worker, I have led many jobs using multiple dosimetry.
- Being qualified in nuclear work, I learned Nuclear fundamentals such as ALARA.
- Safely led and completed dock crane main and aux wire change out.
- Safely manipulated/overhauled systems such as trim and drain, main and aux steam, main feed system, torpedo tubes, vertical launch systems, reduction gear overhaul system, and AC Jobs.
- Safely docked/undocked different carriers and submarines.
- Led work on the carriers by removing, replacing, maneuvering, testing, JBD doors, AE-Valves, transmissions, SSTG, Water box heads, condenser covers, DFT, RPFW, 7 AC, electrical breakers, and other components.
- Led work on submarines by removing, installing, maneuvering, and testing shaft seals, electrical cabinets, trim and drain pumps, flex seal, photonic mass, HDR, 4AC, and other components.
- Assisted property management team with locating items that were tagged with asset and DPAS numbers.
- Inspected rigging gear for compliance with safety standards and operational readiness.
- Operated rigging equipment to safely lift and position heavy materials.
- Streamlined communication between crews to enhance coordination during complex lifts.
- Developed strategies to improve workflow efficiency in rigging operations.
- Worked at heights and in confined spaces without difficulty.
- Assisted crane operators in making critical decisions regarding lift strategies while maintaining open lines of communication throughout the process.
- Performed load calculations, ensuring the safe and effective execution of lifting operations.
- Enhanced team productivity through clear communication with colleagues regarding job assignments and expectations.
- Maintained precise records of all rigging equipment used on projects, ensuring accurate inventory management and timely replacements when necessary.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Management
Associate of Science - Business Administrations
Journeyman’s Rigging - Rigger
Project Management - Management
Agile Project Management - Management
Trade Technician - Maritime Studies
Skills
Rigging operations
Category II crane operator license
OSHA regulations
Heavy equipment operation
Critical thinking
Problem-solving
Load calculations
Client relations
Team communication
Teamwork and collaboration
Interpersonal communication
Relationship building
Accomplishments
- Credited by NNSY Code 972 with creating a new system of lifting a shaft that saves the production shop time and money
- Completed apprenticeship program early and in the top 5 percent of graduates in the class
Affiliations
Kappa Alpha Psi
Certification
- Secret Security Clearance
- Forklift Operator
- Government Passport
- Crane Rigger
- Radiation Worker
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt
Timeline
Nuclear Rigger
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
11.2017 - Current
NNSY
Journeyman’s Rigging from Rigger
Tidewater Community College
Associate of Science from Business Administrations
Old Dominion University
Bachelor of Science from Management
Coursea
Project Management from Management
Google Coursea
Agile Project Management from Management
Tidewater Community College
Trade Technician from Maritime Studies
Awards & Appraisals
Monetary Award (2023), Special Act/ Service Award (2023), Performance Award (2023), Performance Award (2024), Special Act/ Service Award (2025), Performance Award (2025), Special Act/ Service Award (2026), Earn award (2026)
Courses
- B005 – radiological control indoct
- E-Class-R R RAD Class
- E-PAT-R R RAD Pratical
- E-WT-R – Radiation Worker Written Exam
- F700-001CTD – CTD Non-Traditional Radiation worker
- F700-003CTD – CTD Familiarization for entering and exiting high radiation areas
- G370 – Nuclear Interface
- N377 – Rigging practices, Nuclear
- NS-N3001- Nuclear Quality Control
- NRCT-R – Rad Continuous training for radiation workers