Media Mention
Paxton Featured in The Hill’s “Navigating America’s Shipbuilding Future”
Published: Dec 29, 2025
Paxton joined a panel discussion alongside Eric Labs, Senior Analyst for Naval Forces and Weapons at the Congressional Budget Office, and Michelle Krueger, President of Austal USA. The conversation focused on overcoming regulatory hurdles, addressing workforce challenges, and leveraging distributed shipbuilding to meet national security and commercial needs.
Paxton emphasized the need for acquisition reform and collaboration across the industrial base:
“We have not outsourced this industry. This industry is here. We just need that clear demand signal, that clear industrial policy, and you’ll see our shipyards step up,” Paxton said during the panel discussion.
He highlighted distributed shipbuilding as a critical strategy, noting partnerships between defense and commercial yards:
“When you bring everybody in, it makes things more efficient. It looks like we can deliver better at scale.” Paxton also called for reducing regulatory burdens to allow more shipyards to participate in government programs, particularly logistics vessels that could be built to commercial standards.
The SCA represents more than 140 member companies that build, repair, maintain, modernize, and supply ships for the U.S. military and commercial markets. Paxton has served as SCA President since 2007.
At Adams & Reese, Paxton is Partner in Charge of the Washington, DC office and a leading member of the firm’s Global Trade & Transportation Team. His federal practice focuses on maritime law and policy, fisheries law, natural resources development, and environmental and energy policy issues.
Watch the full video here.
