July 30, 2018

Page 1

7 l 30 l 2018

A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding

Tommy Cragg (O45) works with students at the YMCA STEM Fair.

Career Pathways Participates in YMCA STEM Fair

Ken Hewitt and Kathleen Ross monitor the weather at Newport News Shipbuilding, along with Jonathan Camden and Ray Green (not pictured). Photo by Ashley Cowan

NNS' Weather Watchers Newport News Shipbuilding has a team that keeps an eye to the sky – and to the Atlantic Ocean – tracking storms and alerting leaders when systems have the potential to impact the shipyard. Bldg. 66 is home to NNS’ storm center, a hub where temperature, heat index, wind speed, tides, radars, various weather models and more are tracked. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 until Nov. 30 and usually peaks in September. That means during the summer and early fall, much of the team’s attention is focused on tropical systems. “I’ve been in this room for every hurricane that has come upon us since 2002,” said Ken Hewitt (O69), who manages the storm center. During hurricane season, Hewitt’s team monitors reports from the National Hurricane Center and works with Waterfront Support Services (X36) to share forecasts with NNS leadership. When a storm’s effects are imminent, the shipyard enters “storm condition” – a four-tier system that determines preparation steps at NNS – and the two departments work around the clock along with Facilities.

Career Pathways volunteers from Newport News Shipbuilding – and the company’s integrated Digital Shipbuilding Mobile Experience (MX) trailer – spent Thursday, July 19, at the Virginia Air and Space Museum in Hampton for the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA’s fifth annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Fair. More than 1,000 YMCA campers from Peninsula-area YMCA branches participated in the fair, which is part of an effort to prevent summer learning loss. Brenda Meekins (O26), who was one of 15 NNS volunteers, greeted the campers and answered their questions. “Our involvement in these type of events is beneficial for the company and for the kids because we are grooming future shipbuilders,” she said. “This was my way of giving back to the community.” Those interested in becoming a Career Pathways volunteer should contact Pierrette Swan (K18) at 688-2201.

CONTINUED ON PG 3

Shipbuilders Attend Engagement Expo

Updates from the NNS Parking Team

Online Giving Opens for School Tools Drive

READ PG 2

READ PG 4

READ PG 5


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.