Feb. 22, 2021

2 l 22 l 2021

A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) will soon arrive at Newport News Shipbuilding for its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul.

NNS Awarded Stennis Contract Newport News Shipbuilding has been awarded a $2.9 billion contract for the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

Zone parking is set to begin in all Newport News Shipbuilding-owned lots. Photo by Lena Wallace

Zone Parking Set to Begin March 15 Zone parking will begin in all company-owned lots beginning Monday, March 15.

With the current open-parking system, shipbuilders as well as contractors, sailors and government personnel are able to park in any Newport News Shipbuilding parking lot.

Although the open parking system is working now, NNS is preparing for an influx of people – including contractors, sailors and government personnel tied to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) when the aircraft carriers arrive later this year. Moving to the zone-based system will ensure NNS shipbuilders have adequate parking, especially those who are required to report to the shipyard every day.

The majority of NNS’ workforce will be assigned to Zones A and B, which will be located in various areas across the shipyard. Several of the zones created prior to COVID-19 will remain, including Zones 1, 2, 4 and 11. Contractors and leased employees as well as oversized vehicles will be required to park in Zone C, located at Hidens off Warwick Boulevard. Sailors and government personnel will be required to park in areas assigned to the government and U.S. Navy.

“Everyone who qualifies for Zone A or B will get a new hangtag. Zone C does not require a hangtag,” said Andrew Dowd, a member of the NNS parking team. “We’re streamlining parking to maximize capacity.”

The requirement for a group rider will change from two employees per vehicle to three. Group riders will be assigned to Zone A. When members of the group commute individually, they will park in Zone C. CONTINUED ON PG 2

“We are pleased to be awarded the contract to execute this extensive construction and engineering project,” said Todd West, vice president of In-Service Aircraft Carrier Programs. “Our teams have spent three years preparing and planning for each step of the process along the way, and we look forward to continuing our work with our suppliers and Navy partners in anticipation of the ship’s arrival at Newport News.”

The RCOH represents 35% of all maintenance and modernization in an aircraft carrier’s 50-year service life.

Stennis’ RCOH will include the refueling of the ship’s reactors, as well as extensive modernization work to more than 2,300 compartments, hundreds of tanks and systems. In addition, major upgrades will be made in the propulsion plant, to the flight deck, catapults, combat systems and the island.

Built at NNS, Stennis was christened in 1993 and delivered to the Navy in 1995.

The ship is the seventh Nimitz-class carrier to undergo this major life-cycle milestone.

More than 4,000 shipbuilders will support the execution effort, which will continue through late 2025.

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2 | 22 | 2021 superlifts, reducing the number of lifts and the amount of outfitting performed in the dry dock. “You’re still erecting the same amount of steel, but you’re erecting bigger pieces and you’re doing more preoutfitting,” Butler said.

SFA will use the expanded capacity provided by the CVN Assembly Hall to work on the most schedule-critical units, according to SFA Construction Director Geoff Hummel.

An initial concept rendering of the new CVN Assembly Hall in the North Yard. The actual facility will slightly differ from this rendering.

New Covered Construction Facility Coming to the North Yard

“The intention is to give us enough capacity to really be confident we can hit our schedules. It will be safer and more comfortable for the employees, while allowing us to improve quality and efficiency,” he said. “You hit all four pillars – safety, quality, cost and schedule – plus quality of life. There are lots of wins.”

Located on the east end of Platen 18, the CVN Assembly Hall will be a shared facility between Structural Fabrication and Assembly (SFA) and New Construction Aircraft Carrier Programs. It will expand the covered footprint for the two areas by 90,000 square feet and is expected to be production ready in September 2022.

Another win is the fact the facility will bring together different trades, according to Final Assembly Superintendent Sam Carper. “In my experience, whenever you co-locate people from various trades together, it increases your collaboration and really helps with communication and getting work done,” he said.

“The CVN Assembly Hall aligns with NNS core processes and dedication to enable the workforce with production and process efficiencies,” said Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) Program Director Les Smith.

The CVN Assembly Hall was designed for the possibility of future improvements and expansions.

The six-bay covered construction facility can be configured to meet the needs of particular units as they are built. It will feature two 150-ton overhead bridge cranes, and a three-story support building will house restrooms, meeting and break areas, weld metal issue, welding equipment, IT support and office space.

“It’s structurally designed to be fully enclosed in the future,” said O41 Engineering Manager Scott Miller. “The openings are designed so that we can put Megadoors on it and still be able to get our planned superlifts out of the building. And the west wall is designed so that we can extend the building without incurring a lot of additional costs.”

A new facility taking shape in Newport News Shipbuilding’s North Yard will help change the way aircraft carriers are built, while also improving the quality of life for shipbuilders performing the work.

“We’re not just focused on protecting the work. We’re focused on protecting our people and giving them the amenities they need,” said CVN 80 Construction Director Mike Butler.

“Most of our team is working out on the platen today, and we’re going to change their work life significantly in a facility like this.”

The new facility will shield shipbuilders from the weather and allow them to build larger

NOTICE: LONG SERVICE HONORS

Master Shipbuilders, or employees who reach their 40year work anniversary at Newport News Shipbuilding, and other employees celebrating milestone anniversaries are recognized in the Long Service Currents insert.

These achievements have been recognized on a monthly basis in the past. However, Long Service will now be published in Currents quarterly.

Zone Parking Set to Begin March 15 CONTINUED FROM PG 1

To ensure employee safety, those who park in Zone C are encouraged use the company’s shuttle services.

Over the next few weeks, employees will begin to see new parking signage in company parking lots. However, open parking will remain in effect through Sunday, March 14.

For additional information regarding the new zone system, review the one-pager, frequently asked questions and parking map at nns.huntingtoningalls.com/parking-transportation. A video highlighting changes is also available on MyNNS.

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AROUND THE YARD AASA Hosts COVID-19 Panel The African American Shipbuilders Association (AASA) employee resource group hosted a virtual panel discussion for shipbuilders last week focused on COVID-19 and its impact on the African American community.

“I know many of you may have a lot of questions about the vaccine, and I hope you leave with the information you need,” AASA President Robin Lee (O53) told attendees.

More than 2,800 people – including shipbuilders, contractors and sailors – at Newport News Shipbuilding have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

While the virus has touched all communities, some – including African Americans – have been particularly hard hit.

Event panelist Dr. Ethlyn Gibson, an associate professor of nursing at Hampton University, said the effects of structural racism; the prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and asthma; and an initial lack of concern about the virus all play a role.

“It’s not just one simple thing, it’s a lot,” she said. “It’s going to take a village to make a change.”

With two approved vaccines being administered and a third on the horizon, Gibson and NNS Medical Director Dr. Steven Apostoles shared information about the clinical trials and encouraged shipbuilders to get vaccinated.

“It’s normal to be hesitant. But you want to move beyond hesitancy, gather your information and ask questions,” Gibson said, acknowledging historic roots that foster reluctance to vaccination among African Americans. “Even ask questions while you’re sitting in the chair to get the vaccine, but it’s very important to get the vaccine.”

Both doctors said they had been vaccinated and said shipbuilders shouldn’t get caught up trying to get one manufacturer’s version over another. “Whatever vaccine you have the opportunity to take, please take it because it truly can save lives,” Apostoles said.

During the event, Fernando Gaines (E63) and Tonita Jordan (O53) shared their personal COVID-19 stories. Gaines tested positive in December and experienced complications that led him to seek emergency medical care. Jordan lost her father to COVID-19 in January.

“Within the span of about two weeks, 16 of my family members were infected with COVID. Five of them ended up in the hospital – including my father. He fought for about two weeks in the hospital and ended up with COVID pneumonia,” Jordan said. “It really took a hard hit on my family. We have to be really careful and make sure that we’re following the guidelines to be safe and keep others safe.”

To learn more, shipbuilders are encouraged to view “COVID-19 Vaccine and the Black Community: A Tyler Perry Special” on YouTube.

Shipbuilder Steering the Way Joshua Boyer (O43) was recognized with a Level One On-the-Spot Ethics Award for taking action when he noticed a motorist in distress.

Boyer was on his way home when he approached a vehicle at an intersection with a driver who was incoherent and shaking. After 911 dispatchers were contacted, a medical assessment of the driver revealed signs of a stroke.

Joshua Boyer, center, was honored with a Level One On-the-Spot Ethics Award.

Julia Jones, vice president of Manufacturing and Facilities, met with Boyer to thank him for his actions and present his award.

SmartPath Offers Debt Advice to Shipbuilders SmartPath, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ financial education benefit, now offers no-cost debt advice for all Newport News Shipbuilding employees. 2020 posed many challenges for employees and their families, including unexpected financial situations.

To help employees with debt, SmartPath now offers free, confidential guidance on credit card and loan payments, debt consolidation and more. To connect with a SmartPath coach, visit www.joinsmartpath.com/hii.

Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Cases reported last week: 132 Total cases at NNS: 2,837

Total number of NNS employees medically cleared to return to work: 2,062

See case details at nns.huntingtoningalls.com/411.

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DATEBOOK MARCH 8

The Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) offices invite you to join their monthly ED&I Together Strong Life Unites Panel Discussion Series: The Impact of Inclusion Celebrating Women from 4:30 until 6 p.m. The panel will discuss topics related to the inclusion of women’s history and women in shipbuilding. Register on MyNNS.

MARCH 9

Join BeWell for Life Wellness Coordinators for live, virtual cooking demos to learn how to prepare customizable, oneskillet meals in just 30 minutes. The WebEx classes will be held on Tuesday, March 9, at noon and 4:30 p.m. You can attend both sessions if you choose. Different meals will be prepared. Visit myquadmed.com/BeWell to register.

MARCH 31

Eligible employees must complete the Know Your Numbers wellness profile and health screening by March 31 to save $600 on Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Anthem medical plans. To encourage employees to complete the program early, QuadMed’s BeWell for Life team is offering an iPad giveaway for employees who complete the program requirements by Feb. 28. Visit www.hiibenefits.com for a calendar of onsite health screening appointments, instructions to complete the wellness profile and more.

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Diversity Conference Nominations Open March 1 As a part of the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Newport News Shipbuilding takes pride in celebrating employees’ successes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through participation in national conventions and award conferences.

NNS supports six major STEM diversity conferences each year: Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA), Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), STEP (science, technology, engineering and production) Ahead, and Women of Color Awards and Conference (WOC).

Twice per year, NNS’ Diversity and Inclusion Office requests nominations of employees who are making significant contributions to the company to be recognized during these diversity conferences. Nominations for the conferences listed below will be open from March 1 until April 30.

Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA): Founded in 1986, the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) is a globally-recognized event that celebrates the achievements of people who are underrepresented in STEM fields. Each year, the BEYA Conference brings professionals and students together for three days of networking, professional development and celebrating excellence.

STEP Ahead: The Manufacturing Institute launched the STEP Ahead awards as an initiative to recognize women in science, technology, engineering and production careers whether they are running the company, designing the next big product, or testing innovations on the shop floor. Each year, the Institute recognizes 100 women and 30 emerging leaders, a category to honor women under the age of 30 who have achieved unique accomplishments at the start of their careers.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE): The Society of Women Engineers strives to recognize the successes of SWE members and individuals who enhance the engineering profession and advocate for women in engineering through contributions to industry, education and the community. SWE seeks to recognize individuals who support the organization’s core values: integrity, inclusive environment, mutual support, professional excellence and trust.

If you would like to learn more about nominating an employee, please visit the Diversity Conference and Awards website on MyNNS.

MARCH BLOOD DRIVES

Newport News Shipbuilding is hosting the following blood drives in support of the American Red Cross. A time charge will be provided for employees who donate.

Wednesday, March 10 Bldg. 520-6 (James River Room) 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 30 Bldg. 520-6 (James River Room) 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, contact Natasha Eck, Sunny Lee or Christina Charnock via email.

SEEKING SHIPBUILDERS

Visit www.buildyourcareer.com to search for the latest NNS job openings.

Job Title

Req Number

Dept.

Location

Database Administrator 3 Manager Engineering 3 – Lean Leader Project Management Analyst 3 Structured Threat Analyst 5 Technician 2

4175 4227 3402 3790 1331

O67 K95 K07 T51 O31

Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News

Employees are encouraged to use MyHR or the “Current HII Employees Job Search” button at www.buildyourcareer.com to apply. The company continues to offer cash bonus awards for referrals to select positions, visit www.huntingtoningalls.com/hii-careers/refer-a-friend for more information.

Editor: Nicholas Langhorne

Contributing writer: Lena Wallace Currents@hii-nns.com Currents is published every Monday for employees of Newport News Shipbuilding. To submit a story, visit nns.huntingtoningalls.com/currents.

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