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BPMI Inc. Uses IPC Standards to Support the U.S. Nuclear-powered Naval Fleet
July 23, 2024 | Linda Stepanich, IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Our IPC member profile focuses on Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc (BPMI), responsible for the fabrication, test, delivery, installation, and field support of high-quality nuclear power plant components for installation in submarines and aircraft carriers.
What is Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc (BPMI)?
Since 1956, at the direct request of the Navy's Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, our employees have successfully supported our nation's fleet and sailors in various aspects of the design, development, and continuing support of naval nuclear propulsion equipment—a vital part of our nation's defense. We work with our many partners to deliver and maintain safe, reliable, and cost-effective products that ensure the long-term viability of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP).
The NNPP comprises the military and civilian personnel who design, build, operate, maintain, and manage the nuclear-powered ships and the many facilities that support the U.S. nuclear-powered naval fleet. The Program has cradle-to-grave responsibility for all naval nuclear propulsion matters and elements that include:
- Research, development, and support laboratories
- Contractors responsible for designing, procuring, and building propulsion plant equipment
- Shipyards that build, overhaul, and service the propulsion plants of nuclear-powered vessels
- Navy support facilities and tenders
- Nuclear power schools and naval reactors training facilities
- Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Headquarters and field offices
What part does Bechtel play in the NNPP?
BPMI is a large network of engineers, contract professionals, logistics analysts, IT professionals, and other professional services personnel organized into two basic functions: equipment and operations. Our workforce is responsible for the design, manufacturing, and procurement management for the fabrication, testing, delivery, installation, and field support of high-quality nuclear power plant components for installation in submarines and aircraft carriers. BPMI supports the operating fleet by providing upgraded and replacement components during refueling and overhauls and provides information technology solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
To read the rest of this article, which appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.
Note: Questions for this article were answered by Gerald Leslie (Les) Bogert.
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L3Harris Secures Full-Rate Production Contract for US Navy Submarine Communication Systems
02/22/2026 | L3Harris TechnologiesL3Harris Technologies has received its largest full-rate production contract for communications systems from General Dynamics Electric Boat to deliver 26 shipsets for Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines.
NNSA, Sandia, KCNSC Cut Ribbon on CAMINO
02/18/2026 | Sandia National LaboratoriesThe ability to rapidly design and manufacture hardware for nuclear weapons and other missions is essential to develop new systems at pace to meet the nation’s security needs.
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Deep Future: Creating Technology That Matters’
01/08/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfIn his book "Deep Future: Creating Technology That Matters," Pablos Holman reveals that we’ve been living in a world obsessed with apps and ad clicks (what he calls “shallow tech”) while the true foundations of civilization (energy, food, infrastructure, and materials) inch along. Holman makes the case that “deep tech”—the stuff that moves atoms—is the lever we need if humanity wants to scale, survive, and thrive.
Real Time with... productronica 2025: Energy Security and Nuclear Fusion Innovations
12/05/2025 | Real Time with...productronicaPete Starkey meets with Alun Morgan to discuss significant upcoming EIPC events, including a conference at a nuclear fusion reactor site in France and a summer conference in Lithuania. He emphasizes the importance of energy security and advancements in nuclear fusion technology, particularly the role of AI in reactor design. Additionally, Alun highlights a new PCB plant in Lithuania, marking a major investment in the region.
Inventing the Future: An Interview with Dr. Ed Schweitzer
08/20/2025 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer III, founder of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), has a corner office in the company’s world headquarters in Pullman, Washington. Forty-two years after his SEL-21—the first microprocessor-based digital protective relay—ushered in a new era of power-system protection, he has forever changed the way the world safeguards its electric grids. In this three-hour conversation, Dr. Schweitzer reveals that he remains excited to get to work each day, unpacking the “better, cheaper, faster, simpler” mantra that’s still driving SEL’s innovation, and the culture glue that keeps more than 7,000 employee-owners rowing in unison.