A Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard program has received a prestigious Pentagon award for weapon system and military equipment maintenance.

The Emergent Repair Program at Pearl Harbor received the 2010 Robert T. Mason Depot Maintenance Excellence Award, the Defense Department announced yesterday.

"The program provided extraordinary support to combat forces by meeting or exceeding operational force requirements in every measurable category," the Pentagon said in a release. "Through innovative solutions, their diverse team was able to repair numerous surface ships and submarines in a very short period of time."

The depot-level award is named in recognition of Robert T. Mason, a former assistant deputy under the secretary of defense for maintenance policy, programs, and resources.

The award will be presented at the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards banquet on Nov. 17.

In 2005, Pearl Harbor shipyard barely escaped inclusion on a list of military facilities to be shuttered, in part because of efficiency problems and cost overruns.

It is the largest industrial employer in the state, with a combined civilian and military work force of about 4,800 and an operating budget of $563 million.

Among the changes made was the selection of Capt. Gregory Thomas in 2007 to help turn around the shipyard and prepare the way for new Virginia-class subs. Submarines represent 90 percent of the shipyard’s work.

Officials said Thomas improved efficiency and developed a 25-year shipyard modernization plan. His success earned him a promotion to admiral.