South Jersey Visionary: Sam Thevanayagam, President & CEO, Parts Life, Inc. & DeVal Lifecycle Support
Sam Thevanayagam starts each day driven by vision, not just for his company but for the people and communities he serves. As President and CEO of Parts Life, Inc. and DeVal Lifecycle Support, he leads a fast-growing defense manufacturing enterprise that supports every branch of the U.S. military. Parts Life specializes in reverse engineering and creation of technical data to manufacture, repair, or remanufacture obsolete and hard-to-source components. DeVal designs and builds new ground support systems for military operations. Ask him what matters most, he’ll talk about transformation – of lives, careers and communities.
Vision brings clarity and purpose
He often references Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It guides how he leads Parts Life.
That’s especially critical where mission readiness, technical precision and human potential depend on having a clearly defined future. “We’re on the ICBM missile system, the nuclear submarine program,” he says. “We even had parts on the
B-2 bombers that flew missions in Iran. These are real assets in real-world operations. People need to understand the importance of what they’re doing and why it matters.”
The mission can’t wait
As the U.S. maritime industrial base struggles to meet urgent shipbuilding needs, Thevanayagam sees both opportunity and a responsibility to respond. DeVal acquired a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing site in Philadelphia last year and, in July, Parts Life purchased a new building in Moorestown to house its headquarters and Prototype Integration Facility. The workforce is expected to grow to 200 from 180 this year, adding highly skilled engineering and technology jobs.
“We want to be the number-one remanufacturing and repair resource for the Dept. of Defense, outside of the government’s own depots and the large prime contractors,” he says. “That means expanding our ability to deliver value to the taxpayer.”
Careers, not just jobs
Investing in people is as strategic as investing in technology at Parts Life. That starts with education. The company partners with Burlington County Institute of Technology, Pennsauken High School, Camden County College, Rowan College at Burlington County and Rowan University to connect students with hands-on learning and career paths in advanced manufacturing. Some come in through internships or training programs and stay to build lasting careers.
For employees, the company offers free English-as-a-second-language classes, financial wellness programs, and Help U Buy – a homeownership initiative that forgives down-payment loans through service. A workplace chaplain is available, and employees facing personal challenges are connected with resources, such as the Life Focus Center.
“If we want people to succeed, to be transformed,” says Thevanayagam, “we have to remove the obstacles that get in their way. When we do that, they grow – and the company grows with them.”
partslifeinc.com
devallcs.com
