Posted on October 8, 2025
Korean-owned Hanwha has hired a former U.S. Navy admiral to lead the company’s new shipbuilding enterprise in the United States.
The company announced Monday the hiring of Tom Anderson, who most recently served as the program executive officer for ships at Naval Sea Systems Command. His official title is the president of U.S. shipbuilding at Hanwha Defense USA, according to a company news release.
“Anderson will be responsible for the execution of Hanwha’s U.S. shipbuilding programs and shipyard operations, including developing the company’s strategy for future shipbuilding programs as well as building the company’s shipbuilding infrastructure and associated workforce to accommodate future growth,” reads the release.
Anderson retired from the Navy in June after a career that culminated in several years leading PEO Ships. He also served as the acting director of NAVSEA for several months in 2023 when Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) put a hold on en bloc confirmations in the Senate for military promotions.
“Over the course of his career, he served in a variety of industrial, fleet, program office and headquarters assignments in ship design and construction, maintenance, budgeting and requirements for the Navy’s ships, submarines and systems,” reads the Hanwha release.
Anderson will take the helm of American shipbuilding at Hanwha Defense USA as its South Korean owners inject $5 billion into the shipyard it purchased in Philadelphia, Pa. Last year, Hanwha purchased Philly Shipyard and renamed it Hanwha Philly Shipyard.
The company wants to begin building military ships at the yard on the Delaware River and ramp up its production of commercial vessels.
