Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII

Please join me in congratulating five Newport News shipbuilders who were recently honored during the 29th annual Women of Color STEM Conference! Lydia Boone, Christelle Jose and Jessica Payne were recognized as Technology Rising Stars. Janice Hunter was recognized as a Technology All Star, and Pamela Pierce was named a Top Woman in Finance. Thank you all for your contributions to our mission here at NNS!

What a great team! We are strengthening our collaboration and partnership with Old Dominion University. Today we marked the opening of the onsite NNS office located in the ODU Engineering Systems building on the university’s main campus. Learn more about this important synergy between academia and industry here: https://lnkd.in/e4_ygMNj

Thank you to General CQ Brown, Jr., chairman of The Joint Staff, and US Navy leaders for visiting Newport News Shipbuilding yesterday. These leaders met with shipbuilders and had an opportunity to see progress on aircraft carrier and submarine construction at NNS.  

We recognized Newport News Shipbuilding’s 2024 President’s Model of Excellence Award honorees Friday evening. More than 260 shipbuilders earned the award this year, which is the highest honor an NNS employee can achieve. Please take a look at these photos from the event. Join me in congratulating this year’s honorees for going above and beyond in support of our mission to serve the US Navy. #NNSMOE

While today has been difficult for us at Newport News Shipbuilding, it was an honor to recognize our 2024 President’s Model of Excellence Award recipients this evening. These shipbuilders embody our company values and demonstrate the dignity of hard work, craftsmanship, and the purpose of our mission. I hope you will take a few moments to watch this video, which captures the pride of shipbuilding and the dedication our honorees model every day. Please join me in thanking these shipbuilders for all of their extraordinary contributions. #NNSMOE

Today, I have very serious and disappointing news to share with you. We recently discovered that the quality of certain welds on submarines and aircraft carriers under construction here at NNS do not meet our high-quality standards. Most concerning is that some of the welds in question were made by welders who knowingly violated weld procedures. Fortunately, this issue was brought to light by shipbuilders who did the right thing and came forward by either self-reporting or calling the HII OpenLine. I thank them for their honesty and bravery. We have to remember our nation depends on us to deliver the highest quality ships, as do the moms, dads, spouses and children of our Navy sailors who live aboard them. Let me be clear: we do not tolerate any conduct that compromises our company’s values and our mission of delivering ships that safeguard our nation and its sailors. Once our investigation confirmed the validity of these reports, we immediately put together a team made up of both internal and independent engineering and quality subject matter experts to determine the root causes, bound the issue and put in place immediate short-term corrective actions as we work through longer-term solutions. We also notified the Department of Justice, our shipbuilding partner, Navy customer, and regulators, and are providing them with regular updates to ensure transparency and alignment. I cannot over stress that individual actions and behaviors either strengthen – or weaken – our ethical culture in an instant. Every choice you make as a shipbuilder has long lasting impact. Ask for help when you are unsure. And speak up if you see questionable behavior or actions by others. Speak to your supervisor or report it, 24/7, through the HII OpenLine by calling 1-877-631-0020. Our company was founded 138 years ago on the promise of quality – of always accomplishing our work the right way. This is our legacy to protect. We will fix this. We will learn from it. We will come back stronger.

Today is the 67th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine officially integrating Arkansas’ Little Rock Central High School. This trailblazing group was named ship’s sponsors and honorees for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (#SSN800), which is under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding. This photo was taken in November 2022, when we welcomed five members of the Little Rock Nine to NNS for SSN 800’s keel authentication ceremony. We look forward to welcoming members of this group back for the christening ceremony in December! If you’re unfamiliar with the story of the Little Rock Nine, I encourage you to learn more here: https://lnkd.in/giZyr3Ah

Newport News Shipbuilding is proud to support the US Navy by designing, building and overhauling nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. We’re hiring for positions across the company, including engineers and 2025 summer interns. Join our team! Explore career opportunities and apply today: https://lnkd.in/e7wsmDrj

This morning, I had the honor of representing Newport News shipbuilders as the US Navy officially welcomed Virginia-class submarine USS New Jersey (#SSN796) into the fleet. The commissioning ceremony was an opportunity to reflect on the special bond between the shipbuilders and sailors who worked together to bring to life this beautifully complex and mighty submarine. Thank you to everyone whose work led to this milestone. Fair winds and following seas, New Jersey!

The US Navy is commissioning New Jersey (#SSN796), the 23rd Virginia-class submarine, today at Naval Weapons Station Earle. Built by shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat, New Jersey is the first Virginia-class submarine designed for both male and female sailors. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. EDT. Watch a livestream here: https://lnkd.in/etHava_m