NNS and Ingalls Share Resources 1 l 4 l 2021
A new, virtual-based business model is setting a precedent between Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding. The partnership has been in the making for almost a decade, and now the two yards are joining forces to meet the demanding workload shipbuilders face.
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
A team of engineers and designers from both yards are working remotely and in person. As the Engineering and Design Division workload at NNS continues to build, so has the demand for experienced shipbuilders. That’s when the idea to bring on employees from Ingalls became a reality. Ingalls designers are primarily supporting Aircraft Carrier Engineering by producing drawings and 3D product model files. In addition, Ingalls engineers and designers are supporting sub fleet support work on site at NNS.
Shantina Callaway (O53) and Tahjuan Taylor (O53) band aircraft launch and recovery equipment (ALRE) to pallets on the flight deck of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Photo by Lena Wallace
“Smart Start” for Stennis RCOH Hundreds of Newport News Shipbuilding employees at Naval Station Norfolk are preparing USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) for its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH), expected to begin this year. These shipbuilders represent the Smart Start program. Its concept is for shipbuilders to begin on-site jobs before the aircraft carrier departs the Navy base and arrives at Newport News Shipbuilding. Supervising many projects throughout the ship, Scott Prue (X70) ensures craftsmen and craftswomen have the tools they need. “It’s basically getting the ship prepped so that when we pull into the yard it’s a continuous effort,” he said. Ant Bryan is a construction supervisor who envisions how the Smart Start program will logistically flow from the base to Newport News Shipbuilding. “When we first pull into the shipyard, we’ll work on getting the arresting gear systems off the ship because that takes a long time to overhaul,” he said. “We’ll also get all the systems drained that ship’s force has been using like potable water and chill water. Then we will start turning wrenches and redoing this aircraft carrier.”
NNS Design Manager Jason Boyce is leading his team in Newport News while other members are located at Ingalls in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He says the partnership just makes sense. “It’s been a tremendous asset. We do use some different verbiage, but it’s all the same principle. It’s still shipbuilding. The idea of learning from one another is something we should have done a long time ago,” he said. The initial thought was to get the virtual office up and running with several trips back and forth between the two yards, but COVID-19 stopped any chances of a hand hold. Jeff Prestridge is on the Ingalls side of the partnership, contributing his skills and knowledge to NNS. “The COVID pandemic, if there is a silver lining in anything, it kind of helped us set up the infrastructure and prove that it would work.” Several dozen shipbuilders have been brought onboard to the effort with plans for continued growth. Watch a video about the partnership on MyNNS.
CONTINUED ON PG 2
NNS President’s Welcome Back Message See the insert to read a letter from Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin welcoming back shipbuilders for 2021. Watch Boykin’s welcome back video on MyNNS or on the NNS to Go app.