From the NASCAR Track to Washington D.C.: CMW Global Celebrates the Submarine Industrial Base

If you caught the recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, you might have spotted a familiar logo riding on the back of Brad Keselowski’s Buildsubmarines.com car. We are incredibly proud to announce that CMW Global was featured on the track, symbolizing our deep commitment to the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) and the Submarine Industrial Base (SIB).

Seeing our logo alongside Buildsubmarines.com was a massive milestone for us, but the real magic of this partnership isn’t just on the racetrack -it’s happening every day on our shop floor through the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program.

For CMW Global President and CEO Lindsey Crisp, the Martinsville race wasn’t just a marketing event; it was a celebration of our people. Lindsey attended the race alongside Engineering Manager Mark Seelman and Project Engineer Garrett Raker. Both represent the exact kind of technical competence and internal growth that CMW Global thrives on—and the exact future we are building for the next generation of tradespeople. 

Shaping the Future: Crawford Turner’s Journey

At CMW Global, we know that a strong national defense relies entirely on a skilled workforce. The Navy Talent Pipeline is vital for connecting motivated individuals with careers that truly matter. There is no better example of this than our very own apprentice, Crawford Turner.

The connection between Crawford and CMW Global goes back; Lindsey actually had Crawford come out and meet the team years before an official opportunity opened up. When the timing was right, Crawford joined us in February 2025, bringing a lifelong passion for working with his hands—a trait he developed while doing frame-off restorations on old cars (like a 1971 Bronco) with his granddad. 

 

“It’s really about his desire and ability to learn,” says Lindsey Crisp. “Crawford had a desire to learn about what we do here at CMW, so we partnered him with a mentor whom he shadowed to learn various finishing processes like grinding and painting. In conjunction with that, Crawford started pursuing training to learn how to weld.” 

He started at CMW as a finisher—handling grinding, painting, and sandblasting—while simultaneously taking welding classes. Driven to expand his skill set, Crawford recently transitioned into Machining and Fabrication, taking advanced courses at Beaufort Community College.

“Without the machine shops, welders, and fabrication shops, we wouldn’t ever have half the stuff we have,” Crawford shared during a recent interview. “The world would not run without the industrial side of things.” 

The Talent Pipeline Strategy: Hiring for Fit, Training for Skill

To find dedicated individuals like Crawford, CMW Global had to rethink its approach to recruitment. As the manufacturing landscape evolves, traditional hiring methods are no longer enough to sustain the defense industrial base.

Casting a Wider Net

• Beyond the Job Boards: “One of the first profoundly interesting things we learned about the Navy Talent Pipeline was our need to expand our recruitment funnel,” Lindsey explains. “Running an ad on Indeed wasn’t cutting it. We needed to find people we could develop to do this work.”
• Grassroots Engagement: The Navy Talent Pipeline encourages deep, local engagement with school systems and community colleges. Engaging by being where the people are, like at a NASCAR race, gets you top of mind.
• The Core Philosophy: As Lindsey puts it: “You have to engage in many environments to find the person who wants to learn about our industry. It’s about casting a much wider net. Hiring for fit and training for skill.“

Real-World Work with Massive Stakes

At CMW Global, the components our team manufactures support critical military infrastructure, including essential thrust units for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. For an apprentice like Crawford, working on critical components – whether industrial or defense – brings a profound sense of purpose.

Why Every Part Matters:

• The Mission: Ensuring defense systems operate flawlessly to protect our service members.
• The Standard: Zero room for error. A single thrust unit dictates how safely aircraft launch from a carrier deck.
• The Legacy: Carrying on the historic strength of America’s industrial base.

“We’re really building something for our defense system that will end up protecting us if we ever need it,” Crawford says. “You want the people that are protecting all of us to have everything 100% right. When you see something go out the door, it makes you feel accomplished. It’s like – I really did that.”

Next Stop: National Signing Day in Washington D.C.

Our partnership with the Navy Talent Pipeline Program is about to take us all the way to the nation’s capital. On June 26th, 2026, Crawford alongside CMW Global’s President will head to Washington D.C. for the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program – National Signing Day.

During this prestigious event, the CMW Global team will be formally recognized for our collective work in supporting the SIB and MIB. It is an incredible honor that underscores the vital link between local manufacturing excellence and national security.

A Sincere Thank You to Buildsubmarines.com

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at Buildsubmarines.com. By putting the spotlight on the Submarine Industrial Base—whether on the chassis of a 200 mph racecar or through workforce development initiatives—you are helping creators, builders, and innovators see the incredible value of the trades.

As Crawford puts it, the defense of our country is a giant puzzle, and every worker on the shop floor holds a critical piece:

“Even though it’s just a small part, it really is more than that. It is the reason that we are all safe and free.”

If you want to be a part of supporting our military at CMW Global, visit our careers page or explore all the opportunities nationwide at buildsubmarines.com