A native of Tennessee, Rear Admiral Bryant Fuller graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned in June 1985. He earned his Masters of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Naval Post Graduate School.

At sea, Fuller served aboard USS Charles F. Adams (DDG 2) where he qualified as a Surface Warfare officer. Following initial sea duty, he was selected for re-designation as an engineering duty officer. He later served aboard USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) earning his Submarine Engineering Duty Officer Qualification.

Ashore, Fuller served as ship repair officer at Supervisor of Ship Building, Jacksonville, Florida; assistant project superintendent and project superintendent for numerous CGN, CG and SSBN projects at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; deputy director for Shipyard Operations at Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA 04); operations officer and Project Superintendent for USS Alexandria (SSN 757) DMP at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Repair Officer at Trident Refit Facility, Kings Bay, Georgia; maintenance and readiness officer at COMSUBFOR in Norfolk; and operations officer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. From 2009 – 2013, he served as the 83rd Commander at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is currently the Navy's chief engineer and NAVSEA deputy commander for Ship Design, Integration and Naval Engineering (SEA 05).

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit with gold star, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star, and Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars.

Richard Vie retired at the end of 2014 as Vice President Technical Development and Quality Assurance, at Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding, based in Southampton, UK. He was responsible for the design development and technical support for the fleet expansion and ship revitalization programs of Carnival Corporation & plc. He has played a major role in the development of the cruise industry over a period of more than 30 years, which included introducing electric propulsion to cruise vessels.

Richard is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer and the Immediate Past President and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology.

Italian Navy Fleet Renewal: Common Aspects on Electrical Systems

Commander Gennaro LIPARDI is currently assigned as Electrical Plants & Naval Automation Office of Naval Directorate, where he is responsible for surface combatants, amphibious ships, and logistics support ships. He is a permanent Member of the Italian Electrotechnical Commission. He's also accountable for related military (for the Navy) relationship with South America and, in particular, with Argentina and Venezuela.

Born in Naples, he completed his secondary studies at the Military School "Nunziatella" (the oldest one in Europe) and attended the Italian Naval Academy ('93-'97).

At sea, he served as technical officer aboard ITS Garibaldi (CVS 551), ITS Mimbelli (D 561). His first Chief Engineer assignment was on ITS Bettica (P 492) and then his major Chief engineer assignment was on ITS Cavour (CVH 550), where he was involved in supervising of shipbuilding of the Aircraft Carrier and final commissioning.

Lipardi's shore assignments include:

• Research & Development Department of General Staff of the Italian Navy (Electrical Plants)
• Research & Development Department of General Staff of Italian MoD

Lipardi earned a Master of Science degree in Naval Engineering & Naval Architecture from the University of Naples and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rome.

His interests cover all applications of electrical technology aboard military ships.