BlueForge Alliance Chief Strategy Officer Tim Shinbara joins The Fabricator Podcast to talk about how BFA serves as a neutral integrator for the U.S. Navy, focusing on improving the capability and capacity of the submarine industrial base. The conversation delves into BlueForge's outreach and workforce initiatives, including Build Submarines campaigns and partnerships with organizations like Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and the WNBA, aimed at raising awareness and inspiring new talent. Tim describes the challenges small businesses face in joining the defense supply chain, noting that many lack awareness of how their work impacts defense projects. He emphasizes BlueForge’s role in offering “free consulting” to help smaller companies address pain points and improve processes, ultimately increasing capacity within the submarine supply chain. Tim also reflects on his early career in the Navy and how he later developed an appreciation for the intricacies of manufacturing. At the top, Dan and Gareth highlight metal artists Christina and Darren Thompson of New Jersey-based Thompson Craft. They created a metal sculpture of a hammerhead shark named "Sledge." This episode was recorded at IMTS 2024 in Chicago. Email us at [email protected] with any comments, questions, or suggestions.