When President Trump recently declared U.S. shipbuilding a national security priority, it resonated deeply with those of us who’ve spent our careers in maritime operations and defense. As former Navy leaders and now researchers focused on innovation, we agree that now is the time to act.
Roughly 80% of global trade travels by sea. If the U.S. wants to remain a world leader economically, militarily, and diplomatically, we need the ability not only to sail and protect those waters but also to build and maintain the fleets that do so. While China has launched dozens of new naval vessels in the time it’s taken the U.S. to produce just a few, we’ve lost much of our industrial edge and workforce capacity.
America builds some of the most advanced ships in the world, but we do it slowly and expensively. Our system is built for perfection from day one. Meanwhile, China and others build faster, iterate quickly, and scale rapidly. Their philosophy: build now, fix along the way. Ours: make it flawless, even if that takes years.
This difference shows up in numbers. In one case, while the U.S. built four ships of a new class, China built more than 40 of a comparable design. They can outpace us not just in quantity, but in learning and iterating.
We also face workforce challenges. Shipfitting, welding, and pipefitting are skilled trades we’ve neglected. Our industrial base is aging and shrinking, and we’ve treated maritime construction as a niche rather than a national priority. In contrast, China treats it as a fully integrated system, from minerals to design to workforce to launch.
What do we need to think about?
To truly rebuild America’s shipbuilding strength, we need to:
- Face reality at every level: From the welder to the shipyard commander, everyone needs to know where we stand and whether we’re headed in the right direction.
- Be willing to adapt: If the answer to “are we on track?” is “no,” then we must stop, reassess, and change course. That mindset needs to be standard, not exceptional.
- Challenge assumptions: Many long-held beliefs about how we build, train, and measure progress need a fresh look. Delays and shortages are symptoms of a deeper system misalignment.
This is bigger than just ships. Restoring our maritime infrastructure creates jobs, revitalizes regional economies, and strengthens our geopolitical position. If conflict were to arise, the ability to replace lost vessels quickly could make or break the outcome. The U.S. cannot afford to rely on yesterday’s strategies in a world that’s moving faster every day.
It’s not impossible. But it will be hard, and it will require leadership, resources, and a shared national commitment. The question is no longer should we rebuild our shipbuilding base. The question is, how fast can we get started?
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