February may be the shortest month on the calendar, but it packed a punch. From facility visits and industry events to strategic partnerships, our teams stayed focused on execution, growth, and fleet readiness.
JA Moody & Lexair, Inc. — A Distributor–Manufacturer Alliance Supporting the U.S. Navy
About Lisa Smith: Lisa Smith is the CEO of JA Moody LLC & Moody Marine LLC. Under her leadership, the company has evolved into a premier value-added distributor and repair partner, expanding services, inventory, and technical capabilities to better serve U.S. Navy and marine clients.
About Wes Allen: Wes Allen is the President & Co-Owner of Lexair, Inc., a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer based in Lexington, Kentucky. During his tenure, Lexair has grown into a premier U.S.-based valve manufacturer supporting Navy programs nationwide.
Q: Why is the JA Moody–Lexair relationship so important to the Navy supply base?
Lisa Smith: The Navy depends on speed, reliability, and absolute technical confidence. Lexair is a U.S.-based manufacturer with a deep understanding of Navy design, materials, testing, and documentation requirements. Our role is to ensure those valves are available when and where the fleet needs them. Together, we reduce lead times, minimize risk, and help keep ships at sea!
Wes Allen: JA Moody is more than a distributor—they’re a strategic partner & extension of our team. They understand shipyards, Navy programs, and the urgency behind fleet readiness. That alignment ensures our valves don’t just meet specifications on paper—they perform in the real world.
Q: How does this partnership help overcome today’s supply chain challenges?
Wes Allen: Manufacturing capacity alone isn’t enough anymore. You need strong inventory strategies, accurate forecasting, and real-time communication with shipyards and repair facilities. JA Moody provides that visibility, allowing us to plan production intelligently and remain agile.
Lisa Smith: Exactly. We’ve made significant investments in stocking critical Navy valves so customers aren’t waiting months for material. Working closely with Lexair allows us to align inventory with real fleet demand—not estimates—so we can better support new construction, modernization, and repairs. Our sister company, Moody Marine Service, is the authorized repair center for many Navy valves.
Q: Tell our readers about Lexair. What are you most proud of?
Wes Allen: Lexair is a third-generation family-owned manufacturer approaching our 50th anniversary next year. Our modern CNC machine shop features state-of-the-art automation, with multiple machines running unattended overnight—allowing us to offer both competitive pricing and consistent quality. I’m most proud of our people. Many of our team members bring decades of experience, both on the shop floor and in engineering. Every valve is rigorously tested and inspected before leaving our facility. Quality and accountability are part of our DNA.
Q: Lexair has made major investments to support Navy programs. Can you share some specifics?
Wes Allen: Over the past 24 months, we’ve nearly tripled our facility footprint and built dedicated production lines for Navy work. Today, we operate in 110,000 square feet, with 35 CNC machines and 75 full-time employees. We’ve built capacity not just for today’s demand, but for future Navy requirements as well.
Q: What sets Lexair apart as a Navy valve manufacturer?
Wes Allen: Precision, accountability, and focus. We design and manufacture Navy valves exclusively for U.S. Navy applications. Our products are built in the U.S., held to strict quality standards, and engineered specifically for demanding shipboard environments. Every valve carries our reputation—and we take that seriously because we understand that our products must work correctly to ensure our sailors’ safety.
Q: Lisa, you and Wes launched a gear actuator development project together two years ago. Can you share more?
Lisa Smith: This project reflects how we innovate together. We challenged Lexair to rethink traditional actuator design with weight reduction in mind—a critical factor for Navy ships.
Wes Allen: That collaboration led to the development of a lightweight gear actuator, significantly reducing overall weight while maintaining strength and performance. We’re now designing medium and large gear actuators to support larger Lexair Navy valves, expanding options for the fleet.
Q: JA Moody has successfully partnered with Lexair to solve Navy obsolescence challenges. How does Lexair approach this?
Wes Allen: Our engineering and manufacturing teams specialize in recreating obsolete components. We can take older designs and deliver modern, same-form-fit-function solutions—often in as little as 14 weeks. This has been invaluable for older legacy ships where original OEM support no longer exists.
Lisa Smith: This capability has been a game-changer for our Navy shipyard customers. If you’re facing obsolete valve or part challenges, contact sales@jamoody.com or complete our Obsolescence Support Form to get started.
Q: How do partnerships like this strengthen the broader U.S. maritime industrial base?
Wes Allen: Strong domestic partnerships keep manufacturing, jobs, and technical expertise in the U.S. That stability directly supports national security and long-term fleet readiness.
Lisa Smith: Agreed. Navy shipbuilding and sustainment depend on trusted American companies working together. Our partnership with Lexair is built on a shared commitment to quality, innovation, and keeping ships at sea.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Valve Opportunity
Whether it’s new construction, modernization, repairs, or obsolescence solutions, the JA Moody–Lexair partnership delivers speed, reliability, and technical confidence.
- Watch this video and see our partnership in action
- Contact us: sales@jamoody.com
- Learn more: www.jamoody.com or www.lexairinc.com
Self Cleaning Hellan Strainers
We are looking to support unmanned ship requirements with our best-in-class products. The self-cleaning Hellan Strainer is a good place to start! Contact sales@jamoody.com to learn more about these products and how they can provide peace of mind in an unmanned environment.
Curtiss-Wright Visit – Lean Process in Action
On February 5th, representatives from Curtiss-Wright visited the updated Chesapeake, VA, facility to observe the implementation of our lean process flow.
During the visit, our team demonstrated how structured workflow, visual management, and standardized processes improve efficiency and throughput. Technicians performed daily operations in real time, providing transparency into how work moves seamlessly from intake through completion.
Nick Dimm, David Finn, and Katrina Gilbert led the tour, providing insight into Curtiss-Wright product support, our operational capabilities, and the disciplined processes driving performance improvements across the shop floor.
Technicians in Action – Jose & Sal
Jose and Sal recently demonstrated the standard process for servicing an actuator, walking through each step from inspection to final verification.
Their demonstration highlighted:
- Proper workflow sequencing
- Cross-functional coordination
- Adherence to established service procedures
- Quality control checkpoints throughout the process
Collaborative Marketing Shoot
On February 11th, the Chesapeake facility hosted a collaborative marketing shoot between JA Moody and Moody Marine Service, highlighting the strength and alignment of our combined operations.
The session focused on capturing real-time workflows, technical capabilities, and the upgraded lean process flow implemented at MMS. Team members demonstrated servicing procedures across multiple product lines while video and photography documented the coordination, organization, and expertise that drive our daily operations.
VSRA February Membership Luncheon
Members of the MMS team attended February’s VSRA (Virginia Ship Repair Association) Luncheon, where we had the opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow ship repair professionals across the region.
The guest speaker for the afternoon was RADM Kavon “HAK” Hakimzadeh, Commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard, who spoke candidly about the current state of the fleet and the significant workload pipeline ahead. As ships are being deployed longer and operational demands increase, sustainment and rapid repair capabilities are more critical than ever.
His message reinforced what we see daily: The collaboration between the Navy and the ship repair industry will be essential to meeting fleet readiness demands.
Moody Marine Service remains aligned with that mission. Through disciplined growth, strengthened partnerships, and process-driven execution, MMS is positioned to scale responsibly while supporting the Navy’s evolving sustainment and mission readiness priorities.
J.A. Moody’s New Director of Navy Engineering
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Jessica Niwore to the J.A. Moody team as Director of Navy Engineering.
Prior to joining J.A. Moody, Jessica supported the United States Navy and U.S. Coast Guard as an In-Service Engineering Agent at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD), specializing in fluid piping systems. She brings more than a decade of Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) systems experience, including extensive in-person engineering support aboard more than 56 U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships.
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Widener University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Rowan University. Her technical expertise, operational insight, and commitment to mission readiness make her a tremendous asset to our Navy customers and internal teams.
Beyond her professional achievements, Jessica is deeply committed to community service, having contributed over 2,800 volunteer hours over the past two decades in support of local organizations.
Please join us in welcoming Jessica to the J.A. Moody team. She can be reached at 484-325-1110 or Jniwore@jamoody.com.
Job Opportunities
Join our fast-paced, dynamic team and make a difference! Job openings for Technical Sales, Service Technicians, and General Manager at Moody Marine Services’ new San Diego facility. Click here to learn more and apply.
Celebrating Our Amazing Team
Great service starts with a great team. We believe in supporting a culture where people thrive—and today, we’re honored to recognize these incredible team members who’ve been a vital part of that vision:
Anniversaries:
- Ray Coates (20 years): “Twenty years went by in a flash. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
- Andrew Sparck (3 years)
Birthdays:
- Katrina Gilbert (February 24)
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication!
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