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A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
A Fresh Coat for “Big Blue”
Newport News Shipbuilding’s 1,050-metric ton crane in the North Yard, also known as “Big Blue,” now has freshly painted letters and NNS and Huntington Ingalls Industries logos. Contractors recently scraped, primed and painted the crane’s girders. Watch a time-lapse video of the paint job on MyNNS. Photo by Ashley Cowan
New Shift Schedule to Take Effect July 11 Newport News Shipbuilding is altering second shift by one hour to better support production efforts and minimize the impact of change on employees as much as possible. The company continues to revise COVID-19 policies and procedures to align with changing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Beginning with third shift on July 11, the new shift schedule will be as follows: • First shift: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. • Second shift: 3:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. • Third shift: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. NNS’ COVID-19 Crisis Action Group (CAG), along with construction and production leadership, evaluated different shift options with an eye toward continued cleaning and social distancing; production leadership concerns; quality of life challenges; and a return to more “normal” operations. A list of frequently asked questions regarding the shift change is available on NNS’ website.
NNS Offers Video Interviewing Options Newport News Shipbuilding Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and Talent Acquisition are partnering with the third-party vendor Yello to offer on-site and off-site video interviewing options for NNS employees starting June 7. Yello is an external video interviewing platform not on the internal NNS network that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. “Starting in March 2020 and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Talent Acquisition had to transition from standard in-person interviews to fill open positions to phone interviews quickly,” said Carrie Allen, acting director of HRIS and Talent Acquisition. “Since then, we have been working toward transitioning from phone to the new standard of video interviews. Giving a hiring manager or candidate the opportunity to video interview... CONTINUED ON PG 2
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Summer interns arrived in two groups. The first group, pictured left, arrived May 24 and will finish July 16. The second group, pictured right, started June 7 and will complete the program July 30. Photos by Ashley Cowan
Summer Interns Return to NNS Newport News Shipbuilding welcomed back summer interns this year. The internship program, an important tool for recruiting entrylevel talent, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were all disappointed when we had to cancel last summer’s internship program due to COVID so it is exciting to be able to bring students back this year,” said Shauntel Bridges (K21). “Our pipeline programs at NNS – internships and co-ops – are vital for
hiring new talent, and it is great to keep that pipeline going.” This year’s summer intern cohort of 25 students is significantly smaller than past years and is focused on careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The students, who represent 14 colleges, are working in Engineering and Design, Nuclear Propulsion and Integrated Planning and Production Control.
NNS Offers Video Interviewing Options CONTINUED FROM PG 1
...offers flexibility that improves the hiring experience, potentially decreases the time in filling a position, and saves the company on costs.” NNS employees will have the option to either conduct or participate in video interviews remotely or at the shipyard. A list of on-site video interviewing locations is available on MyNNS. Employees using these locations must review and follow the guidelines posted in the room prior to starting the interview. While this initiative has been approved by both Cybersecurity (T51) and Security (O15) for video interviewing use only, specific guidelines are in place. All
participating employees using company devices must: • Complete the annual LX training: Control of Photography, Videography, and Video Live Streaming at NNS. • Be an authorized camera user with the red camera icon on their badge and have an approved company issued camera device. This device must have the gold security seal, either affixed on the device or the digital seal. All participating employees using company issued or personal devices must ensure that no classified and/or NNPI/CUI/sensitive information is discussed or displayed during the video interview. Employees must
check their surroundings prior to the video interview to ensure no sensitive information is displayed in the background. Personal camera-enabled devices are for off-site use and may not be used on company property. Talent Acquisition will schedule requested video interviews. Each NNS employee is responsible for ensuring they have proper accesses before requesting or participating in a video interview. If an employee does not have the required camera accesses and permissions, personal devices may be used off-site. To request camera access and camera-enabled devices, visit the NNS Service Portal on MyNNS.
REMINDER: CARES Act COVID-19 Reimbursement Survey As a reminder, employees who used Paid Time Off (PTO), Annual Leave (AL), Vacation (VAC) or Paid Personal/Sick Time for COVID-19-related reasons from March 15, 2020, through March 28, 2021, could be eligible for reimbursement. As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, HII is preparing to submit a claim for COVID-19-
related leave costs, which includes hours that employees took from their individual paid leave account balances for COVID19-related reasons. To determine if paid leave qualifies for reimbursement, HII has engaged a private accounting firm, Ernst & Young (EY), to conduct a survey through June 20, 2021. The survey is voluntary and if an employee elects to not participate, they will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Visit the HII CARES Act Paid Leave Survey website for additional information and frequently asked questions. Please note, this does not apply to shortterm disability payments, quarantine pay, special COVID-19 sick time, or sick leave covered by the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
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AROUND THE YARD NNS President Meets With Enterprise (CVN 80) Ship’s Sponsor Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin met with Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, one of the ship’s sponsors for Enterprise (CVN 80) June 3 via video call. Boykin updated Ledecky about the progress shipbuilders are making on CVN 80’s construction. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles also is a CVN 80 ship’s sponsor. Boykin plans to meet with her as soon as Biles’ schedule allows. Both athletes were on-site at NNS for Enterprise’s first cut of steel in 2017. NNS President Jennifer Boykin and CVN 80 Ship’s Sponsor Katie Ledecky met virtually June 3. Photo by Ashley Cowan
Relay For Life: Bob Goforth Shipbuilder Bob Goforth (X83) has a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that took 24 years to receive a diagnosis. “How can I be considered a cancer survivor, if I haven’t beaten cancer yet?” he said. Goforth realized that he has survived many tests and treatments. Goforth keeps a positive outlook and chooses to “make fun” of his cancer. He tried to use his cancer diagnosis to win a family monopoly game to no avail. He walked six miles in the Relay for Life and said his shiny new bald head created less resistance. He wears costumes to his infusions. Yet, Goforth knows that cancer is not fun. He recently had a rough time with chemotherapy, but friends and family gave him the strength to fight back. Even sharing his story with fellow shipbuilders has lifted his spirits. “Go forth and do something to make fun of cancer. I think you will feel better for it,” Goforth said. “Your body can do much more than you think, but you have to give it a
Cindi Wolfe presents an Apple Watch to Wade Traynham. Photo by Ashley Cowan
Bob Goforth during a recent treatment at Waterford Cancer Center.
chance by not giving up.” NNS is a sponsor of the 2021 Peninsula Relay For Life, which will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on June 26 at Hampton Roads Academy. Visit the Relay For Life website or www.RelayForLife.org/NNS to donate, register, or join our team. For more information about registration and donation, contact Amy Prillaman (O93) or Jenn Cherry (O22).
Myth: A vaccine that contains mRNA sounds like it will alter my DNA. Facts: The CDC and other authorities make clear that a COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA. The mRNA provides instructions to our cells to defeat COVID-19, but once that happens, the cells break it down.
Bob Meyer, left, presents an NNS swag bag to Jeffrey Epps. Photo by Ashley Cowan
Shipbuilders Win Raffle Prizes After Being Vaccinated Newport News Shipbuilding employees Wade Traynham and Jeffrey Epps received an Apple Watch and an NNS swag bag, respectively, after winning a raffle. Traynham and Epps were among shipbuilders who had been entered into the raffle after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Cases reported last week: 6
Total cases at NNS: 3,575
Total number of NNS employees medically cleared to return to work: 2,944
See case details at nns.huntingtoningalls.com/411.
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DATEBOOK JUNE 8
Attend a Men’s Health Month webinar from the HII Family Health Center at noon to learn what to do if you think your testosterone may be imbalanced. Register at www.myquadmed.com/bewell.
JUNE 9
Join Engineering & Design and the Corporate Citizenship Team (K18) from noon until 12:30 p.m. for a Virtual Learning Session (VLS) on Corporate Citizenship. Corporate Citizenship is how the company exercises its rights, obligations, privileges and overall corporate responsibility within our local and global environments. This organization facilitates SEEKnns, the company’s NNS Gives platform, School Tools Drive and more. Sign up on MyNNS. For questions and concerns, email E&D Connections.
JUNE 9-15
FitNNS and SHIPs Network present De-Stress Fest. Sign up for events on MyNNS. Contact Cailee Helmick for questions.
JUNE 10
The Spear and Gear Toastmasters Club invites shipbuilders to meet online at 6 p.m. with club members to hear speech presentations, participate in table topics and hear speech evaluations to develop public speaking, listening and leadership skills. Email spearandgeartoastmastersclub@gmail.com with a personal email address or contact Michael Miller (E37) or Jamar Skyles (E03) via email.
JUNE 14
The Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) offices invite shipbuilders to join their monthly ED&I Together Strong Life Unites Panel Discussion Series: Creating a Path from Hope to Change from 4:30 until 6 p.m. via Zoom. Panelists include Susan Ceglinski, Juanita Bivens, John Witherspoon, D.A. Wolkowich, Carlos Moulds and Emmylou Mosley. This event is open to all NNS employees. No charge will be provided. Register on MyNNS.
JUNE 16
NNS Spear & Gear, Newport News Shipbuilding’s online company store, will host a pop-up sale from 6 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. outside Bldg. 520. All items – including a wide variety of company-logoed apparel, products and merchandise – will be 50% off marked prices. Shop online 24/7 with free shipping at www.nnsSpearAndGear.com. Please note: the 50% off sale applies only to items at the pop-up, not items in the online store.
JUNE 16
Looking to learn where college savings fit into your financial plan? Register for SmartPath’s “Strategies To Pay For College” webinar at noon to learn about 529 plans and how you can effectively save for your child’s college. Visit www.joinsmartpath.com/HII/classes to register.
JUNE 17
Shipbuilders Together Realizing Inclusion, Diversity and Equality (STRIDE) and the Ingalls Shipbuilders Equality Alliance (ISEA) invite shipbuilders to participate in “Allyship Building,” a virtual panel discussion and education seminar from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m. Join shipbuilders from NNS, Ingalls, and the HII corporate office as they examine the topic of ally-ship from different angles and share personal experiences. Register on MyNNS to learn, ask questions, and become a better ally to fellow shipbuilders. The audience will be invited to ask questions at the end of the event. Contact J. Ariel Matthews (X74) for more information.
JUNE 24
The African American Shipbuilders Association (AASA) invites shipbuilders to join “Conquering Fear: The Angelo Maker Story.” This event is open to all NNS employees and will be hosted on Zoom. No charge number will be provided for attending this event. Visit the AASA website for more information.
JUNE 26
Newport News Shipbuilding and BayPort Credit Union are sponsoring the Peninsula Relay For Life Drive-Thru Luminaria Event from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. at Hampton Roads Academy. Luminarias will be lit to honor cancer survivors and caregivers or in remembrance of those lost to cancer. These flames burn during the event to serve as a reminder of the purpose of Relay For Life. Luminarias will be $10 for one bag or $25 for three bags. Visit www.RelayforLife.org/NNS to donate, register or join our team.
JUNE 30
During annual enrollment United Steelworkers, guards and salaried employees were set to “tobacco user” for HII medical benefits. Employees who do not use tobacco or have completed a tobacco cessation program must update their tobacco-use status to “tobacco free” by June 30 to save $660 annually on their medical insurance for the upcoming benefit plan year. Update tobacco-use status at www.hiibenefits.com or by calling the Huntington Ingalls Benefits Center at 1-877-216-3222.
SEEKING SHIPBUILDERS
Visit www.buildyourcareer.com to search for the latest NNS job openings.
Job Title
Req Number
Dept.
Location
Project Management Analyst 4 – Nuclear SME
6436
O69
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.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Newport News Shipbuilding employees can visit NNS Gives at nns.YourCause.com to find volunteer opportunities across the region and log volunteer hours.
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. Blood drives will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in Bldg. 520-6 (James River Room) on the following dates: • June 9 • July 7
• July 20 • Aug. 4
• Aug. 11
To schedule an appointment, contact Natasha Eck or Sunny Lee via email.