Retired US rear admiral joins Hanwha

Then-U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, second row seventh from left, poses during the U.S. Navy delegation's visit to Hanwha Ocean R&D Campus in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 27, 2024. Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean

Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Tom Anderson has become yet another former U.S. Navy officer to join Hanwha Group.

Earlier this month, Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, announced that the former program executive officer for ships, who had a 34-year career with the U.S. Navy, has been appointed as the president of U.S. shipbuilding at the company.

The defense firm said he will be responsible for executing Hanwha's U.S. shipbuilding programs and shipyard operations, as well as developing future programs, infrastructure and associated workforce to accommodate future growth.

"Tom has had a distinguished and impactful naval career, and we are delighted to bring his deep industry expertise, creative thinking and demonstrated leadership to Hanwha," Hanwha Defense USA CEO Mike Smith said.

"Tom brings a wealth of experience and unique perspectives that will accelerate the delivery of novel solutions to our customers' most elusive industrial base challenges."

Between 2023 and 2024, Anderson frequently visited Korea in his capacity as a U.S. admiral to learn about the latest shipbuilding technologies from Hanwha and its rival HD Hyundai. Last year, he toured the shipyards and R&D facilities of Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

With that experience, he is expected to help his employer secure shipbuilding orders from the U.S. Navy through the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia.

"Hanwha's global defense strategy is focused on our evolution into a multidomestic company that brings leading technology, deeper partnerships and sovereign capacity to each of the markets we serve," said Michael Coulter, global defense CEO of Hanwha Aerospace. "I am excited to welcome Tom to our team as we continue to invest in capacity in the United States."

Both Coulter and Smith previously served as U.S. Navy officers as well.

Roger Camp, who joined Hanwha Defense USA in February as senior director for business development of naval programs, is another former U.S. Navy officer working for the Korean conglomerate.

Given ongoing U.S. efforts to revive the country's shipbuilding through Korean investments, industry officials expect Hanwha to hire additional former and incumbent U.S. military officers.