CEO Corner
Updates from Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams is the President & CEO of the Pacific Battleship Center, home of the Battleship IOWA, LA Fleet Week, and the National Museum of the Surface Navy. A purpose-driven leader and storyteller, he shares updates and insights from one of the nation’s most innovative nonprofit organizations. His writing explores leadership, community, and culture — connecting lessons from the deck plate to the boardroom while highlighting the people, progress, and purpose that continue to drive the mission forward.
Newest Updates
Charlie Noble, the fo’c’s’le zoo, and more fun nautical terms
A few podcasts back we got into a discussion about the origins of the word "scuttlebutt." A lot of you looked it up and dropped the meaning in the comments, so we decided to dedicate this week's podcast to ship lingo.We start by explaining a few good ones, then put the sailors in the crowd to the test with a list of terms they had to explain on the fly. Did we stump them? Tune in and find out.Know any we missed? Drop them in the comments!* * * * Come aboard for a tour Volunteer with us...
CEO Update 9 November 2022
This week’s update from CEO Jonathan Williams
2023… and BEYOND! Our Vision For Next Year
In our last episode we discussed our strategies for preservation. In this one CEO Jonathan Williams describes the direction we're aiming for the next few years, leading up to the opening of the National Museum of the Surface Navy.How do we stay relevant for the future? How do we deliver the message about the importance of freedom of the seas to this and future generations in a way that's interesting and inspiring? How do we connect with our community and a more nation-wide audience?We get into...
Museum Update 2 November 2022
No Higher Honor: RADM Sam Cox, USN (Ret.) on the Battle Off Samar
Every so often, an event of truly epic proportions becomes the stuff of legend. The engagement off Samar during the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf on Oct. 25, 1944 is such an event.Full of humbling, heroic sacrifice, this incredible naval engagement resulted in a U.S. victory that ultimately cost Japan the war.Presented during our Freedom of the Seas awards gala by Rear Admiral Sam Cox, USN (Ret.), Director of Naval History and Heritage Command, here is a fascinating overview of the Battle off...
CEO Update 26 October 2022
HNSA 2022 Wrap-Up: In Which We Make Rust, Corrosion, And Coatings Interesting
We finally have CEO Jonathan Williams back in the house, so we corralled him for a wrap up of this year's Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA) conference. The theme was hull maintenance, a crucial part of operating a historic vessel as a museum, and in this podcast episode, we talk about the future of the industry with regard to preserving ships that were never intended to last as long as they have.We referenced a video COO Mike Getscher and his team put together for the conference. You can...
Exclusive Opportunity: Honoring The Battle Off Samar
Jesse Mendoza and VPAN: Making a Difference for Veterans aboard Battleship IOWA
If you follow this podcast, you know that veterans are a priority at Battleship IOWA. To that end, for over a year, we have been home to the Los Angeles branch of Veterans Peer Access Network (VPAN). VPAN is a veterans-helping-veterans program that connects retired members of our armed forces and their families with services, resources, and other veterans to help with everything from the transition from military to civilian life to navigating the complexities of the VA system.We invited...
CEO Update 12 October 2022
CEO Jonathan Williams update on Battleship IOWA and the National Museum of the Surface Navy
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