6. Rickover personally chose contractors to work for his section during World War II
Rickover’s work in the Electrical Engineering section covered a vast array of technical problems. Circuit breakers which popped open when a ship fired its big guns came under his study for correction. Reliability issues regarding electric motors were his responsibility. Rickover discovered electrical motors being built by contractors, using standards developed before World War I. Changing the standards and imposing them throughout the fleet and support activities came from his section. Rickover’s section also took the lead within the Navy to create shock-resistant equipment installed on ships and submarines. Improved lighting, distribution systems, and electrical components from the smallest switch to the largest dynamo all came from the Electrical Engineering section, all under Rickover’s constantly watchful eye.
Rickover also personally assigned work to contractors, selecting a particular company for tasks as he saw fit. This led him to develop personal working relationships with the executives of the Navy’s major electrical contractors and shipbuilders. Electric Boat, General Electric, Westinghouse, Sprague, and many of their subcontractors were well known to Rickover. Among the contractors, his reputation became one of a demanding customer not prone to accepting what he viewed as less than the best effort. He also earned the reputation of someone who got things done. Contractors learned to start work on a project or task when he told them to start, rather than waiting for the signed contractual letter. Within the Bureau of Ships Rickover’s section was seen as possessing a greater level of technical expertise and professional competence than any within the Navy.