CAPT George Lesher
Industrial Manager
US Coast Guard Yard
Captain George Lesher, the Yard’s Industrial Manager since the fall of 2011, came to Baltimore from the Coast Guard Cutter DEPENDABLE (WMEC-626) where he served as Commanding Officer from 2009 to 2011. During this period, DEPENDABLE conducted law enforcement operations from the Canadian border to South America, completing more boardings than any other major cutter.
The Captain’s first shipboard assignment was Damage Control Assistant on USCGC GALLATIN (WHEC-721), then stationed at Governor’s Island, NY. This tour was followed by consecutive assignments as Engineer Officer of USCGC ESCAPE (WMEC-6) in Charleston, SC, and USCGC NORTHLAND (WMEC-904) in Portsmouth, VA.
In 1997, the Coast Guard assigned Captain Lesher to the 270’ WMEC Type Desk at the Maintenance and Logistics Command in Norfolk, VA, overseeing the depot level maintenance and alteration of thirteen 270’ foot cutters. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Executive Officer of USCGC FORWARD (WMEC-911), stationed in Portsmouth, VA. This assignment was followed by a tour as the National Security Cutter Platform Manager in Baltimore, MD overseeing the efforts of engineers and logisticians providing subject matter expertise for the acquisition and construction of a new cutter. In 2007, Captain Lesher served as Executive Officer of the pre-commissioning crew for USCGC WAESCHE (WMSL-751), stationed in Alameda, CA.
Captain Lesher is a 1990 graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. After his undergraduate education, Captain Lesher entered the Coast Guard as a Direct Commission Engineer, reporting for duty as a port engineer at the Naval Engineering Support Unit, Cleveland Ohio.
Captain Lesher was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals (with Operational Distinguishing Device), an Achievement Medal (with Operational Distinguishing Device), and several unit awards.
As the Yard Industrial Manager, Captain Lesher is responsible for managing the Coast Guard’s largest industrial facility with a workforce of approximately 400 people covering shipbuilding, ship repair, overhaul, renovation and modernization. The shipyard’s FY11 activities included over $97M in work ranging from 28 cutter availabilities, 32 weapons system overhauls, eight engine overhauls, and 144 buoy refurbishments.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)