Documentary exploring the integrated and critical national defense roles of the U.S. Navy, American Merchant Marine, and the nation's shipbuilding industry.

Utilized in several strategic public-policy events and Congressional hearings, aired nationally, and instrumental ultimately to its presenting sponsor, Bath Iron Works, securing new contracts valued at several billion dollars, including construction of the USS Arleigh Burke — lead ship of the DDG-51 class guided missile destroyers.  Since then, BIW has delivered dozens of these ships, each built at a cost of more than $1B.

Filmed prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall aboard warships of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet and a U.S.-flag bulk carrier; in offices of a variety of policy research organizations and hearing rooms of the U.S. Senate; and at 20+ locations along the Eastern seaboard from Maine to Naval Station Mayport (Florida).

Features former Chiefs of Naval Operations, Admirals James Holloway III and Thomas Hayward; senators and cabinet members William Cohen and the late John Tower and John Glenn; American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution scholar and faculty member, Sidney L. Jones; and former Under Secretary of the Navy and eventual CIA Director, R. James Woolsey.  Actor Robert Lansing is host. Interviews conducted by the film’s director, Dugan Rosalini.

Portions of the film were used years later during Congressional base consolidation and closures to assist the successful efforts of the governor of Illinois and mayor of Chicago to preserve Naval Station Great Lakesas the U.S. Navy's sole Basic Training facility. 

"The most effective media piece promoting our efforts to build a 600-ship Navy."                                                          — Hon. John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy

Bronze Anvil award — Public Relations Society of America

Gold Camera — U.S. Industrial Film Festival

In Memoriam: The film is dedicated to the officers and crew of the American merchant vessel, S.S. Marine Electric, who appear in the film and were subsequently lost at sea when their ship sunk in a winter blizzard off the coast of Virginia. 

PRINCIPAL EXHIBITION: cinema/special event venues

SECONDARY: television

• Request viewing the entire film here.