Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello. This is the first of a new, weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day - in the US, across the seas and around the world. 

At long last the White House has named its nominee to be the next Secretary of the Navy - we’ll talk about who is Carlos Del Toro and the challenges he faces. The eagerly-anticipated Navy 30-year shipbuilding plan seems to be delayed - again. And what are the implications of a leaked budget memo telling Navy leaders they have to choose between a new submarine, new destroyer or a new strike fighter - but they can only have one. CavasShips is a Defense & Aerospace Production. 

Please send us feedback by DM'ing @CavsShips or @CssProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com .

[Jun 12 21] Episode 1...We are Underway

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello. A weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world.

This week...An exclusive interview with Congresswomen Elaine Luria, who in only a few years has quickly emerged as one of the key seapower advocates in congress. She’s got a lot to say, so don’t miss it. In our squawk box segment Chris Servello sounds off on the need to deliver connected and clear messaging to gain more understanding and support for maritime operations.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com .

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jul 03, 21] Episode 4…Conversation w/ Congresswoman Luria

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello. A weekly podcast looking at maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world.

This week we talk with noted naval experts, Bryan McGrath of the FerryBridge Group consultancy and Thomas Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for New American Security and founder of Archer Strategic Consulting, to get their take on the latest Navy budget battles and to learn if the service is indeed strategically bankrupt--as suggested in a recent War of the Rocks commentary.(GRADUALLY AND THEN SUDDENLY: EXPLAINING THE NAVY’S STRATEGIC BANKRUPTCY, Chris Dougherty)

In our squawk box segment Cavas laments the year long wait for investigation findings and lessons learned from the largest in port disaster in recent memory...as he sounds off with "Remember the Bonhomme Richard!" 

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com .

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jul 10, 21] Episode 5…Avoiding Bankruptcy

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…Chief of Naval Operation Lisa Franchetti released her NAVPLAN 2024 this week with two key components--get the Navy ready to compete and if needed fight the PRC Navy by 2027 and to make the Navy a more capable part of the joint warfighting ecosystem. Joining us to discuss the details of the plan, what he liked and where he would like to see more detail is retired naval officer, navalist and friend of the pod Bryan McGrath. 

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Sep 20, ’24] Ep: 161 Bryan McGrath Discusses CNO 33's NAVPLAN 2024

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…One of the most difficult parts of the new build and maintenance process is having the right understanding of the condition of all the vessels' hidden parts and pieces–welds, pipes, tanks and many other covered hardware. Gecko Robotics, a Pittsburgh based company, is helping the Navy solve this problem by using magnetic robots to map these parts and help determine their wear and need for maintenance. Troy Demmer, Gecko’s co-founder joins us to discuss how his company and the Navy are making predictive maintenance more predictive and cost effective.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Nov 01, ’24] Ep: 167 Robots to Make Ship Building & Repair More Predictable

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…in preparation for the upcoming Surface Navy Association national symposium, retired flag officer Mark Montgomery is back with us for his take on upcoming naval priorities.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jan 10 ’25] Ep: 175 Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery on Navy's 2025 Priorities

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to Saab’s Ken Masson, VP of Business Development about the company's show offering and areas for growth.

The SNA National Symposium runs Jan 13-16 and is held at the Crystal City Hyatt Regency. Our daily SNA pod coverage is sponsored by Lockheed Martin in conjunction with our weekly pod sponsors HII and GE Aerospace.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jan 16, ’25] SNA Day Three…Interview w/ Saab's Ken Masson

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On this episode…the maritime industrial base. Everybody talks about it, but what to do about it? Noted analysts Bryan Clark and Michael Roberts are focusing on the proposed Ships for America Act, a new initiative in Congress to martial resources to back what many see as a faulting industry. They’re here to dive into some of the details of their latest report.

[Jan 24 ’25] Ep: 177 Affordable Approaches to Improve US and Allied Shipbuilding and Ship Repair

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On this episode…can the Navy get it’s Mojo Back? That’s the title of a new work from retired three-star admiral Dave Lewis – an officer with long experience sailing and building ships. He’s here to see if the chief sea service can get its old mojo workin’ again.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Feb 28 ’25] Ep: 182 Dave Lewis on Navy Mojo

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On this special episode…Cavas and Servello hit the road to attend a supplier day hosted by BAE Systems Ship Repair, where they spoke to Matt Paxton, President  of the Shipbuilders Council of America and Stephanie Treece, Director of Production Control at Jered, LLC.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Mar 07 ’25] Ep: 183 State of Ship Repair

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On this special episode…ship collisions, political shipbuilding machinations in Congress and the White House, and where are the blueprints to repair US Navy ships? We dive into these topics and more with Sal Mercogliano and John Konrad, two of the best-informed commentators on the maritime scene.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Mar 21 ’25] Ep: 185 Sal Mercogliano and John Konrad on the Latest Maritime Headlines

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On this special episode…Budget drills. The Navy and all the services have been ordered to find billions in cuts to reinvest elsewhere in the Pentagon. Longtime budget guru Todd Harrison will be here to report on a major exercise where eight savvy analysts tried to figure out how to find those billions.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Mar 28 ’25] Ep: 186 AEI's Todd Harrison on Budget Drills

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…keeping the Navy’s fighting ships in fighting trim is all about sequencing the maintenance correctly.  Robb Chadwick, a retired flag officer with extensive at sea experience explains how thoughtful sequencing of maintenance can make all the difference in saving time and money. 

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 04, ’25] Ep: 187 Sequencing Ship Maintenance to Save Time and Money

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to Daniel Tenney, VP for Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.

The Navy League Sea, Air and Space Exposition runs Apr 7-9 and is held at the Gaylord National Harbor. 

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 07, ’25] Sea, Air and Space Day One…Interview w/ Lockheed Martin's Dan Tenney

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to retired Rear Admiral Tony Lengerich, VP, Naval Programs at Thales Defense & Security. 

The Navy League Sea, Air and Space Exposition runs Apr 7-9 and is held at the Gaylord National Harbor.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 08, ’25] Sea, Air and Space Day Two…Interview w/ Thales' Tony Lengerich

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. On today’s special podcast we talk to Dr. Shane Arnott, Senior VP Programs & Engineering at Anduril.

The Navy League Sea, Air and Space Exposition runs Apr 7-9 and is held at the Gaylord National Harbor.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 09, ’25] Sea, Air and Space Day Three…Interview w/ Anduril's Dr. Shane Arnott

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week… a shortened version of our usual weekly podcast, as it follows the week of the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space exposition and three special-focused podcasts we aired during the show. We’re going to talk about the show – the largest annual gathering in the US of US Navy leaders and the industry that supports the service – and give you some early impressions of the White House Executive Order signed out on April 9.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 11, ’25] Ep: 188 Week in Review--Sea, Air & Space; New Maritime Executive Order

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…we cover the latest maritime headlines and topics of interest with Hudson’s Bryan Clark. From Golden Dome, to shipbuilding, to uncrewed ships to priorities for the next CNO, Bryan shares what he’s hearing and what the audience should be tracking. 

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 18, ’25] Ep: 189 Review of Headlines w/ Hudson's Bryan Clark

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week… Rebuilding the US merchant marine and the industry that supports it are goals now shared by both Congress and the presidential administration, and a new book is out that aims to guide those actions. Dr.Steve Wills is the editor of Returning from Ebb Tide: Renewing the United States Commercial Maritime Industry, and he’ll be here to dive deep into that subject.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Apr 25, ’25] Ep: 190 Dr Steve Wills

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week… another busy week inside the Washington Beltway and around the world. Sam Lagrone of USNI News will help us sort through the Ships Act, the Reconciliation Bill, shakeup at the National Security Council and how the Houthis caused an expensive US Navy fighter to roll off an aircraft carrier into the Red Sea.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [May 02, ’25] Ep: 191 Headline Review w/ USNI's Sam Lagrone

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…Modern Day Marine in DC, Special Operations Force week in Tampa--analyst Byron Callan walks us through Modern Day Marine, while Servello teams up with Jason Salata in Tampa to talk SOF.
Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [May 09, ’25] Ep: 192 Jason Salata & Byron Callan Review SOFWEEK and Modern Day Marine

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…the view from Europe. Lots going on outside the USA. Veteran naval journalists Richard Scott and Xavier Vavasseur are back to bring us up to date on French and British carrier deployments, trends in Europe, and some of the latest naval news from Asia. 

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [May 17, ’25] Ep: 193 The Latest from France, the UK & Asia

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [May 23, ’25] Ep: 194 Review of Headlines w/ Heritage's Brent Sadler

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…a busy week for headlines, Chris and Chris deep dive into the week’s happenings and pick a few to expand on during our discussion segment. 

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [May 30, ’25] Ep: 195 Deep Dive on Recent Maritime News

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…the 45-day shipbuilding review, the way the US Navy builds ships, and the ways the Navy SHOULD be building ships. All that and more as former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Nickolas Guertin joins us for a wide-ranging discussion.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jun 06, ’25] Ep: 196 Former Navy Acquisition Chief Nickolas Guertin

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…we talk budget and current maritime operations with Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery. 

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jun 13, ’25] Ep: 197 Mark Montgomery on Budget & Latest Maritime Operations

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…we are joined by Rear Admiral  Pete Small, Naval Sea System Commands Chief Engineer and Surface and Subsurface Warfare Center Lead to discuss shipbuilding, ship repair and how to be more effective.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jun 20, ’25] Ep: 198 NAVSEA's Rear Admiral Pete Small

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…Vigor Marine Group’s Francesco Valente joins us to discuss the Navy’s lofty readiness goals, ways to improve vessel maintenance practices and his company’s growing influence in the US ship repair business.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jun 27, ’25] Ep: 199 Vigor's Francesco Valente

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…the final ships of one of the US Navy’s most controversial shipbuilding programs ever are about to be completed and delivered from their builders. We will hear from the Navy’s program managers for the littoral combat ship, CAPT Matt Lehmann and Jonas Brown, about what’s next for this unique class of ship.  

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jul 03, ’25] Ep: 200 LCS Program Office Update

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…friends of the pod and maritime experts Sal Mercogliano and John Konrad are back to discuss the latest mess in the Red Sea, why optimism about shipbuilding might be misplaced and what’s up with the US Coast Guard.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Jul 11, ’25] Ep: 201 Sal Mercogliano & John Konrad

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…Hanwha’s acquisition of the Philadelphia Shipyard has created intense interest since the deal was completed in December, and the South Korean defense giant now is beginning to show off its first American shipyard. Hanwha Philly Ship CEO David Kim is with us to talk about the expectations for turning the yard into a showcase of expertise and efficiency.

Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.

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