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Lance R Alderman

I served under Dugan Shipway when he was the Seawolf Program Manager and later Program Executive Officer Submarines (when he became a rear admiral). He held people accountable but was also very fun loving. It was a pleasure to work for him on some demanding things, but he would help you to navigate your way through the problems. I believe the last time I saw him was when he was the President of Bath Iron Works and we were on the same flight heading to New England and reminisced about earlier times. He was a great leader and a fellow submariner. I am sorry he is gone, but he did accomplish a lot in his time. Thanks for the good memories, even if it was during some difficult times as far as the programs.

Gary Willis, CAPT USN Retired

Jim Condon, CDR USN Retired

Rest in Peace Shipmate!

Karl Newman

I was (then) Captain Shipway's youngest crewman when he commanded USS Los Angeles (SSN 688). He was my first Commanding Officer at a sea command and I was the last man he pinned Dolphins on before his change of command. He was a larger than life individual who demanded high standards from his crew and accepted no nonsense, but would also have fun with his crew. I have some great sea stories invoving him and still tell them when I'm around other old sailors. I live right down the road from Fernandina Beach and wish I had known he was there, I would have looked him up..

Sean McGinty

In 1986 I was an Ensign struggling to make it through NPTU Ballston Spa. The Lead Engineering Officer Of the Watch for my section sent me to see Captain Shipway about my performance. He asked me how many checkouts I had left and how long I thought it would take me to get them. When I gave him my estimate he said, "Okay, make me a graph showing your plan." He made me graph out my plan, and then he taped that graph to the side of his file cabinet. Then he scheduled weekly meetings for me to update him on my progress. Every week, I'd report my numbers, and if I was behind he made me explain why and come up with a plan to catch up. I did finally graduate, thanks in no small part to him holding my feet to the fire like that. That was my first taste of real accountability in the Navy, and it's a lesson I never forgot.

Dave Lamouret

Though I never really knew Dugan very well, as he had already headed off to the Navy by the time my life intersected his, my parents George and Jean Lamouret had a major impact on Dugan's life. Dugan's parents ended up being my God parents and spent many an afternoon at the family home on Maple Street. I followed him in service of our county though I stayed on dry land and joined the Army. I later became the Commander of our local American Legion Post to which Dugan remained a member despite moving away from Cherry Valley about 60 years ago. He was good friends with some the members and has been very supportive of both me and Legion in recent years. Dugan will be missed by many and remembered by even more. RIP Admiral

Wayne Hay

Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of John. We were Classmates in college and then we were together the first year-and-a-half in the Navy. I didn't see him again until our 25th college reunion, but it was like we had never drifted apart. Both my late wife and I were so pleaed that he had done so well. One of my deepest regrets was that we failed to attend the 50th reunion, so we never got to see him again. He was one of the best ever!

Gerry Lamb

I grieve the loss of Dugan Shipway. A great mentor and friend who served our Nation and Navy with distinction. His wife Lynn brought Dugan great happiness and love. Lynn, you and Dugan ante in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Weezie Potter

I loved Dugan. I have known Lynn since 1962 when we collected and papered a wall with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup wrappers. I met Dugan when they moved to Maine so he could run the Bath Iron Works. We hung out at their house on Foster Point in the summer, drank and had a lot of laughs. In his retirement my friend I would visit Lynn and Dugan in their various houses in Bath, Maine and in Amelia Island. Dugan was usually out playing golf with the men while we were chatting it up, doing needlepoint and getting cooking tips. My last communication with Dugan was around the weather station they gave me for Christmas. I was watching the temperature in Feb 2023 go down from 4 degrees to -9.7 degrees, communicating with Dugan too frequently. I asked Dugan how low it could go he said “read the owner’s manual, if you haven’t tossed it”. Duh, great advice I thought and one is never too old to learn from a pro. Thanks Dugan. Rest in peace. You are missed..

Lisa Heydon

I met Dugan in Hawaii in 1976 or so. We were both very young and new in the Navy. We had mutual friends, Molly and Donald Glessner. I'm so sorry to hear that Dugan has passed, but he will be joining lots of family and lifelong friends in Heaven. Meanwhile, please accept my most sincere condolences at this sad time. He was an officer and a Gentleman in the truest sense, and will be missed by the many whose lives he has touched. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Admiral Shipway!

Don Marsh

I am so sorry to hear of Dugan’s passing. We met on his first day as president of Bath Iron Works. I was assigned to give him a ride from the shipyard to his hotel at the end of what must have been a long and stressful day. His first question to me was were his parking spot was. He then asked if we could drive around the City of Bath and surrounding areas, all the whil he was asking about my background and family. Over the next six years, I reaffirmed what I learned that first day. Dugan was a genuine good guy who was going to treat people with dignity and respect. He will be missed.

John F. "Dugan" Shipway

2023-02-18

John F. “Dugan” Shipway passed away peacefully in Fernandina Beach, Florida on February 18, 2023, at the age of 80. Dugan was born and raised in Cherry Valley, New York, the son of Edward and Arloween Hunt Shipway. He most recently lived in Bath, Maine and Fernandina Beach, Florida. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a Master’s degree in engineering from the University of Louisville.

Dugan lived a life of service to his country and the communities in which he lived. He was a career Navy officer, retiring as Rear Admiral after 35 years of service. His last assignment on active duty was as Director of Strategic Systems Programs. He was a member of the Strategic Advisory Group of the U.S. Strategic Command.

After retirement from the Navy, Dugan joined General Dynamics’ Electric Boat in 2000. In 2003, he was promoted to President of Bath Iron Works, one of the State of Maine’s largest employers, where he remained until he retired six years later. In 2009, he was awarded the Navy League of the United States highest honor – the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award for exemplary leadership in the maritime defense industry.

Dugan served on several Boards, including most recently as Chair of the Board of global shipbuilder Austal USA, the Board of the Maine Maritime Academy, and the Board of Mid Coast Health Services in Maine.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lynn Doe Shipway. He is also survived by his brother Richard. In addition to his parents, Dugan was pre-deceased by his brother James.

A memorial service will be held for Dugan at 11:00 a.m. on June 5th at Kent School in Kent, CT.

Gifts in his memory may be made to the Dugan and Lynn Doe Shipway Scholarship Fund at Kent School, P.O. Box 2006, Kent, CT 06757, or a charity of your choice.

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