Benjamin Wedewer

About Benjamin Wedewer

LT, USN Currently serving as Safety Department Head aboard USS WASP. Currently exploring all options as I consider my transition to civilian life.I am a Naval Aviator qualified in the MH-60S with 900+ hours of flight time. Currently I am directly responsible to the CO of USS WASP for the Safety of his ship and his crew of Sailors. I supervise over a dozen safety programs and directly supervise nine safety professionals that make up the safety department. I conduct a variety of quarterly and periodic safety trainings for the crew, and investigate dozens of safety incidents every quarter. I coordinate with safety professionals from BAE and a variety of other contractors while they conduct maintenance during the ship\'s drydock period. Additionally, I am in charge of the ship\'s Zone inspection program. I ensure every space on the ship is inspected quarterly and track the progress of thousands of material discrepancies. Qualification:MH-60S Helicopter Aircraft CommanderEducation:The Citadel - English BachelorsAviation Safety SchoolInstructor\'s Seminar (NROTC)Naval Aviation Schools Command (Flight School)Navy SERE

Experience

1. Naval Aviator Safety Department Head

   US Navy

   Jun 2021 — Present

   Directly supervised 10 Sailors, 60 Divisional Safety Petty Officers and 14 safety programs in ensuring the safety of Sailors, resulting in a 10% reduction in reportable mishaps. • Supervised BAE and dozens of sub-contractors to ensure the safe conduct of all contractor ship’s maintenance valued at $350 million resulting in the safe completion of the ship’s year and a half long maintenance period. • Graduated as a top five student from Naval Aviation Safety School resulting in his qualification as an Aviation Safety Officer fully qualified to be the primary investigator in the full range of aviation mishap investigations. • Educated the leadership and crew of WASP by conducting quarterly and annual safety trainings, lead training for all department heads and safety petty officers quarterly and every sailor twice annually. Created dozens of safety promotions, disseminated in a variety of formats from video to newsletters to the crew.• Investigated dozens of mishaps quarterly and submitted investigation reports to the Commanding Officer and Navy Safety Command. Identified root causes and presented the lessons learned to ship’s leadership, leading to the refinement of best practices and 5 safety instructions. • Managed the ship’s zone inspection program, ensured every space on the ship was inspected quarterly for material discrepancies. Conducted weekly zone inspection training to 150 inspectors, and tracked the progress of thousands of material discrepancies the inspections generate in preparation for the ship’s material condition inspection.

Education

• The Citadel

  Bachelor's degree

  2009 — 2012