NSAM is led by an exceptional team with vast experience and expertise across
the shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing domain.
Executive Director
Steve Gaschler's Biography
Mr. Gaschler currently serves as the Executive Director of Navy ManTech’s Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing (NSAM) Center of Excellence responsible for NSAM management and operations, project management and development, team member collaboration, customer engagement, and outreach activities. Mr. Gaschler oversees the entire NSAM team and supports Navy ManTech’s mission of development of advanced manufacturing technologies and deploying them in U.S. shipyards and other industrial facilities.
Mr. Gaschler joined ATI in 2022 after a distinguished 26‑year career in the U.S. Navy, culminating as a Limited Duty Officer responsible for major nuclear servicing operations at Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyards. He led high‑visibility reactor refueling and defueling efforts, delivered measurable improvements in cost, schedule, and safety performance, and guided multi‑site regulatory reforms that modernized nuclear fuel safety requirements across the Navy enterprise.
Throughout his career, Mr. Gaschler has built a reputation for technical rigor, operational excellence, and customer‑focused leadership. His expertise spans advanced manufacturing, nuclear safety, program execution, and cross‑functional team management, consistently delivering results for Navy stakeholders.
EDUCATION
BS, Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology,
Thomas Edison State University, 2019
Technical Director
Jamie Breakfield's Biography
Mr. Breakfield serves as the Sr. Technical Manager and Technical Director for the Naval Shipbuilding and Advanced Manufacturing (NSAM) Center of Excellence responsible for technical oversight of NSAM’s Navy ManTech project portfolio, managing Center performance and execution of active projects, identification and development of new projects, team member collaboration, customer engagement, and outreach activities. Additionally, he supports other Centers and Consortia as a Subject Matter Expert. Mr. Breakfield joined ATI in March 2025 as the NSAM Sr. Technical Manager.
Mr. Breakfield has over thirty-three years of combined design, engineering, manufacturing, and Information Technology experience. Prior to joining ATI, Mr. Breakfield spent 21 years working for Ingalls Shipbuilding in the Research & Development and Advanced Concepts Groups. There, he had extensive involvement in both the Navy ManTech program and the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) and served as Project Manager on multiple Navy ManTech projects. Other roles at Ingalls were Project Management in the IT Department, Modeling & Simulation Lead within the Advanced Concepts Group, and multiple positions within the NSRP Extended Leadership Team.
Mr. Breakfield’s previous experience in industries such as cryogenics and aerospace included mechanical design, 3D CAD, and Model Based Engineering.
EDUCATION
BS, Mechanical Engineering,
Mississippi State University, 1991
Financial Manager
Melissa Frady's Biography
Ms. Frady is a Sr. Financial Analyst supporting the Naval Technologies Division at ATI. She currently serves as the Naval Technologies Division Lead Analyst and the Financial Manager for all three ATI-managed Navy ManTech CoEs (i.e., CMTC, CNM, and NSAM). Ms. Frady joined the SCRA/ATI team in 2006. She has extensive knowledge in program management, program & project cost proposals, and ATI cost structure. Ms. Frady currently mentors division financial analysts and oversees the division financial progress.
Prior to joining ATI, Ms. Frady was employed as an Accountant by AnMed Health in Anderson, South Carolina. She managed the non-patient accounts receivable system and corresponding general ledger accounts; reconciled patient accounts receivable; prepared month-end journal entries; and, assisted with the annual external audit. Ms. Frady began her career employed as a Financial Analyst with Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston, European Regional Office (SPAWAR Europe) in Stuttgart, Germany. She provided program financial analysis to the C4ISR and IT programs in support of Department of Defense (DoD) commands including United States European Command (EUCOM), U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), U.S. Marine Forces Europe (MARFOREUR), and U.S. Air Force Europe (USAFE).
EDUCATION
BS, Accounting
Lander University, 1996
Contracts Manager
Wade Hedges's Biography
Prior to joining ATI, Wade worked for a year as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. Prior to that he was an assistant baseball coach at Mississippi State University (MSU). During his tenure in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Hedges coached in the 2007 College World Series and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2005 SEC Tournament Championship. While at MSU, he was responsible for tutoring the catchers, including the 2007 Johnny Bench Award recipient and highest drafted catcher in school history.
EDUCATION
BS, Criminology,
Florida Southern College, 1996
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MS, Sports Science,
United States Sports Academy, 1998
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Graduate Certificate in Leadership, The Citadel, 2018
