8 l 2 l 2021
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Photo by Lena Wallace
Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) Christened The U.S. Navy’s 22nd Virginia-class submarine, Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795), was christened July 31 at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Like all Virginia-class submarines, SSN 795 was built by shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat as part of a teaming agreement. NNS President Jennifer Boykin attended the event and represented the thousands of NNS shipbuilders who worked to build the submarine. “I’m very fortunate to get to see the responsibility, courage,
determination and mastery that our shipbuilding team delivers every day. Throughout the pandemic, these patriots carry the weight of our nation’s defense on their shoulders, and this submarine is proof of their success,” she said. During the ceremony, Sarah Greenert McNichol, the matron of honor and daughter of Ship’s Sponsor Darleen Greenert, broke the ceremonial bottle of sparkling wine across the submarine’s bow. Darleen Greenert is a Navy veteran and wife of former Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert. CONTINUED ON PG 2
COVID-19 Update Newport News Shipbuilding continues to monitor Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state guidance regarding the delta variant of COVID-19 and the rise in confirmed cases in our region and in our shipyard. While these changing dynamics prove to be very frustrating, our primary objective is to keep our shipbuilders safe by staying ahead of a potential relapse of the pandemic. In the last two weeks in Virginia, positive COVID-19 cases have more than doubled from 2.5% to 6%. Most of the Hampton Roads region’s positivity rates are above the state average. And while these numbers are significantly lower than the peak cases earlier this year, our shipbuilder vaccination rate is only 53%. The frequently asked questions issued last week have been updated
to provide additional details based on your feedback. Specifically, we have clarified the mask policy when social distancing can be maintained. If you are in a meeting or work space and can maintain social distance of at least 6 feet of separation from others, and you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must continue to wear a mask. While the delta variant of COVID-19 poses new challenges, the CDC recommends that everyone get vaccinated to better protect themselves and their loved ones. Employees are urged to get vaccinated at the HII Family Health Center or in the community. Self-report your vaccination status by logging into your UPoint account from www.hiibenefits.com. Employees vaccinated through the NNS program do not need to self-report.
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8 | 2 | 2021 said. “It offers a degree of flexibility where we can take advantage of future state technologies. These are going to be companion devices for anything and everything work related moving forward.” T54’s Mobility and Executive Support teams, in addition to contractors from Nuvo Solutions and Bell Techlogix, are collaborating to distribute the devices – at a pace of more than 100 per day. Shipbuilders who are due for an upgrade receive a text message and are asked if they would like to pick up their new device in person at an on-site location or have it mailed to them. Those who choose to pick up the device on site can then schedule a time and date. They will likely notice some process improvements.
Newport News Shipbuilding is replacing more than 3,500 company-issued smartphones. Photo by Lena Wallace
NNS Deploys New Mobile Devices Thousands of Newport News Shipbuilding employees are getting a smartphone upgrade as part of a massive project to replace more than 3,500 company-issued devices. NNS is replacing Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphones with new Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones. Thanks to strategic partnerships with Verizon Wireless and Samsung, the phones are being upgraded at “minimal to no cost” to the company, said T54 Manager Josey Frakes. He said the new devices, which feature a new Android management standard called Android Enterprise, will make a real difference for employees and will support various communication and collaboration apps such as Jabber, WebEx, MyTime and SharePoint and even internal apps developed by Dogfish Labs or NNS IT, such as Sparc, Big Blast and Onsite. “Every shipbuilder who has a smartphone or smart device is now going to have expanded capabilities with Android Enterprise, allowing easy to access applications for instant install from a managed NNS Google Play Store,” Frakes
“We’ve come up with ways to shorten the timeline,” said Marie Greene (T54). “We’ve developed a process where we can do a lot of preloading on the phones ahead of time. When the user comes, they’re not there for 45 minutes. They may be there for 15 minutes.” Smartphones that are shipped to employees require only a few simple steps for set up. NNS will receive residual value for returned Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphones through a buyback program.“We have permission from Cybersecurity to do that as long as they are completely wiped and in good working condition,” Greene said. “If the phone has some damage or we were not able to wipe it, then we follow a different process.” Frakes said the goal is to have all of the new smartphones deployed by the end of September. “It is a huge effort to make this happen on such a broad scale,” he said. “All of the teams have come together, devised a plan and made positive agile adjustments along the way to facilitate this, and we are very pleased with the ongoing success of the upgrade.”
Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) Christened CONTINUED FROM PG 1
SSN 795 is the second U.S. Navy submarine named for Adm. Hyman Rickover, who served for 63 years in the Navy and is credited with spurring the service to adopt nuclear propulsion after World War II. The first Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was a Los Angeles-class submarine that was commissioned in 1984 and
decommissioned in 2007. Watch a video on MyNNS to hear from some of the NNS shipbuilders involved in SSN 795’s construction.
Next Virtual Trades Hiring Event is Aug. 18 Newport News Shipbuilding Talent Acquisition is hosting a series of virtual hiring events this summer to fill numerous trades positions. The next virtual hiring event for blasters, insulators and marine painters will be held on Aug. 18. The deadline to apply is Aug. 11. NNS is currently offering $2,000-$5,000 sign-on bonuses to qualified experienced blasters. Employees are encouraged to share these opportunities. Visit buildyourcareer.com for more information about this summer’s hiring events.
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AROUND THE YARD 2021 School Tools Drive Begins Aug. 16 Newport News Shipbuilding’s 2021 School Tools Drive is Aug. 16-27. The goal is to provide school supplies for 2,300 local students. Donations from shipbuilders will impact classrooms, students’ lives and the community’s future. Shipbuilders will be able to donate online, through collection containers at gate turnstiles or through department collections. Most needed supplies include composition and spiral notebooks, No. 2 pencils, three-ring notebooks, notebook paper, five-subject notebooks, report covers, compass/protractors, pens, rulers, markers/highlighters, erasers, colored pencils, glue/glue sticks, calculators, pencil boxes, kid-safe scissors, crayons, backpacks, tissues and hand sanitizer. Donations from shipbuilders will support local departments of social services, Boys & Girls Clubs, ForKids and An Achievable Dream. Look for more information about how to support the School Tools Drive in upcoming editions of Currents.
Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirts Available Shipbuilders can purchase T-shirts in support of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer effort through Aug. 31. Proceeds from sales will help provide access to information and services such as mammograms. Short-sleeve T-shirts are available in charcoal or pink, and long sleeve T-Shirts are available in charcoal only. The shirts all feature a shipyard design. To see the design and learn more about prices, see the flyer. To purchase shirts or for more information, contact Paula Young (O68) at 688-7634 or via email, Brenda Meekins (O26) at 380-3239 or via email or Aimee Hicks (O68) at 380-7775 or via email.
NOTICE: NNS to Go App Update Postponed Due to an operating system update, the NNS to Go app will not undergo the software update previously scheduled to occur by Aug. 1. As a result, users do not need to update their version of the app at this time. The update will take place at a later date and communications will be sent out in advance.
Virtual Engagement Expo Begins Aug. 16 Mark your calendars and get ready for the premiere of the 2021 Virtual Shipbuilder University 2.0 Enable Our Workforce Engagement Expo on Aug. 16. This expo will provide information on Newport News Shipbuilding’s current state, companywide initiatives, community involvement and engagement opportunities. Watch the commercial on MyNNS.
Check Out July’s ED&I Panel Discussion The Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) offices hosted their monthly ED&I Together Strong Life Unites Panel Discussion Series: Civility Beyond Intractability on July 12 via Zoom. Panelists included Alan Bomar, Submarine Fleet Support superintendent; Jennifer McClain, NPD Business Operations manager; Jeffrica Key, HII Corp Customer Affairs manager; and Cailee Helmick, FITNNS chair and VCS Nuclear Propulsion Fluid Systems engineer. Watch a video of the discussion on MyNNS. Please note: No charge is provided. Employees who watch the video must do so on their own time.
Check Out Volunteer Opportunities
Myth: We don’t know what’s in these vaccines. Facts: According to Johns Hopkins University, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines contain mRNA and other normal vaccine ingredients, such as fats (as a protection for the mRNA) and a small amount of sugar. They were not developed using fetal tissue. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a modified common cold virus. None of the vaccines contain tracking devices, microchips or implants
Looking to volunteer and make a difference in your community? Newport News Shipbuilding employees can visit NNS Gives at nns.YourCause.com to find exciting and impactful volunteer opportunities across the region. NNS Gives also allows shipbuilders to log volunteer hours.
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Cases reported last week: 32
Total cases at NNS: 3,669
NNS employees medically cleared to return to work: 2,999
NNS employees vaccinated: 53%
See case details at nns.huntingtoningalls.com/411.
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8 | 2 | 2021
DATEBOOK AUGUST 3
AUGUST 10
Hear from New York Times bestselling author Emily Oster on how parents can make healthy decisions for themselves and their families. Register for the noon webinar from Maven, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ new fertility and maternity benefit, at www.hiibenefits.com.
The Find Your Resilience Lunch & Learn, presented in partnership with HERO, will teach valuable strategies to bounce back after difficult life circumstances. Sign up for the noon webinar at www.myquadmed.com/hii.
AUGUST 5
How do you know if you’re ready to retire? Attend SmartPath’s retirement readiness webinar to determine if you’re ready for retirement and how to get there if you’re not. Visit www.onsmartpath.com/hii to register for the noon webinar.
With bullying on the rise, how do you handle it as a parent? Get tips to address school and cyber bullying from HERO: HII Employees Reach Out. Register for the noon webinar at www.hiibenefits.com.
AUGUST 9
The Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) offices invite shipbuilders to join their monthly ED&I Together Strong Life Unites Panel Discussion Series: Fearless Progression Psychological Safety from 4:30 until 6 p.m. via Zoom. Panelists include Renee Myles (E01), Oliver Aguilar (K73), Kimberly Artis (X44), Beth Scicchitano (E46), Martin Gerald (E85) and Robin Lee (O53). This event is open to all NNS employees. Register on MyNNS. No charge will be provided. For questions, email DiversityAndInclusion@hii-nns.com.
AUGUST 11
AUGUST 19
Newport News Shipbuilding employees are invited to attend a virtual information session from 5 until 6 p.m. to learn about MBA programs for working professionals offered by the College of William & Mary. RSVP by Aug. 16. NNS is an official corporate partner of the Raymond A. Mason School of Business. This partnership means tuition benefits are available through the Corporate Partnership Scholarship Program for any NNS employee who is accepted into the Executive MBA or Part-Time MBA Programs.
AUGUST 16-27
Newport News Shipbuilding’s School Tools Drive supports children in local underserved communities to ensure they have the school supplies they need to start the year off strong. NNS will support five departments of social services in hopes of assisting 2,300 children in need. Shipbuilders can donate in person or use an online order option. Look for more information in future editions of Currents.
Upcoming 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. • Aug. 4 • Aug. 11 • Sept. 2 • Sept. 15 To schedule an appointment, contact Natasha Eck or Sunny Lee via email.
SEEKING SHIPBUILDERS
Visit www.buildyourcareer.com to search for the latest NNS job openings.
Job Title
Req Number
Dept.
Location
Blaster (experienced) Engineer Electrical 3 Engineer Electrical 3 Engineer Electrical 4 Engineer Electrical 5 Engineer Systems Test 3 Insulator (experienced) Manager Test Engineering 2 Marine Coatings Trainee Marine Insulator Trainee Marine Painter (experienced) Production and Planning Scheduler 3
8025 7952 7526 7525 7851 8055 7984 6907 7986 7985 8048 7237
X33 E83 E11 E11 E70 E25 X33 E91 X33 X33 X33 X83
Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News Ballston Spa, NY Newport News Newport News Newport News Groton, CT
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.
LONG SERVICE Keith Armstrong Edward Brown David “Buck” Bucholz George Cebra Greg Charron
Stephen Clark John Conroy Jr. Steven Elder Don Hamadyk James Harmon Jr.
Clarence Harrison Jr. Peter Jones John King III Glenn Mantell Keith McCabe
Jim Norris III Kathy Owen Arcino “Q” Quiero Jr. James Reed Robert “Rocky” Rilee
Alvin Russell Timothy Russell Todd Smith Warren Underwood Alfred Vega
Bob Vitek John West Jr. Jim Whitson Kenneth Williams II Steve Woodward
Master Shipbuilders with 40 years of dedicated service APRIL • MAY • JUNE • 2021
APRIL 65 YEARS Henry Deese Jr. E68 60 YEARS Milton James E37 Ernest Montgomery E68 50 YEARS Larry Brooks X11 Booker Carter Jr. X43 Vincent Harris O53 Darnell Hawkins O63 Phillip Ussery X18 45 YEARS Billy Davis M30 Alan Grasso X42 Warren Hice X36 Claudia Hughes N910 James Johnson X73 Joseph Johnson X31 Milton Jones X11 Terry Mabe O43 Elliott Mason E82 Edwin Mills X42 James Myers X18 David Redd X43 John Shelley K46 Nora Street X47 Delbert Taylor O58 James Waddy O26 Gordon Ware O31 Ellis Washington III X67 John Williams X33 Herbert Winfield X67 Vanessa Wise K45 40 YEARS Keith Armstrong E14 Edward Brown E22 David Bucholz X62 George Cebra E42 Gregory Charron O43 Stephen Clark O41 John Conroy Jr. T54 Yvonne Curtis O14 Steven Elder E70 Joseph Evilsizer X47 Donald Hamadyk K70 James Harmon Jr. X43 Clarence Harrison Jr. E13 Donald Hayden O03 Peter Jones E24
Kyra Kimmeth X73 John King III E81 Glenn Mantell E15 Keith Mccabe O45 James Norris III O53 Rose O’Neal E86 Kathy Owen N358 Jeffery Price X43 Arcino Quiero Jr. X44 James Reed E33 Robert Rilee E25 Alvin Russell E25 Timothy Russell X33 Todd Smith O20 Warren Underwood X42 Alfred Vega E83 Robert Vitek O31 Michael Weaver O53 John West Jr. X43 James Whitson X22 Kenneth Williams II E12 Steven Woodward E81 Laura Worrell O19 Rickey Wilson X33 George Wynn X42 35 YEARS Thomas Auth E42 John Germano E25 Joseph Kilgore E17 Jennifer Miller E18 Richard Neville E25 Frank Rossi E86 Kevin Smith E32 Robert Staha E41 30 YEARS Jamie Devanny X83 Deanna Naylor E70 Matthew Needy O11 Jeremy Nichols X10 James Pavlock E61 Jeanne Purdy N356 Michael Robinson E51 Cleveland Smith K46 Jon Sweeney E37 Dwain Tisdom O26 25 YEARS James Adair O68 Vincent Altizer T56 Stacy Barnes E14 Terry Benthall X47
APRIL Gerald Alston X18 Connie Apple-Hamlin O55 Kenneth Armstrong X36 Ricky Atkins M53 Frank Atwell X33 James Barger X44 Milton Barnes X18 Charles Barringer E56 Thomas Bellamy X31 William Black K48 William Blomstrom E25 George Boone O53 Andre Briggs X31 Larry Brooks X11 Robert Caffacus O27 Thomas Carlough O19 James Chandler E13 Randolph Chapman O53 Michael Chase O64
M AY
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David Bolster E61 Kevin Bowman E49 Robert Check O62 Steven Clemmons* X44 Marie Crosby E61 Matthew Dye* X15 Julie Garcia X44 Emma Garner X42 Taneca Goode E49 Earl Goodrich Jr. E89 Betty Gruss O27 Victor Harris Jr. X11 Ronald Heath E26 Matthew Izzo O67 Jason Jaques* X51 Albert Kalaskas N930 James King E22 Robert Leonard O85 Diana Liakos E27 Lakela Lofton O64 Jeremy Lowe X18 Rafael Lugo E68 William Manown E64 Christen Mccray E83 Bradley Newlin X47 Evelyn Oliver X47 Remona Price O04 Montage Rainey E25 Michael Ritz E61 Lincoln Spicely E89 Michael Torres* E84 Christopher Underwood* E91 David Van Petten E83 Deborah Wallington E26 Antoinette Whitaker E68 James Williamson Jr. K48 Richard Wiltse E64 Vernon Zimmerman Jr. E81 20 YEARS Toni Acosta E85 James Adams X31 Russell Anthony T51 Richard Armitage E21 Shaun Aunchman* X51 Eric Avery* E84 Antonio Bailey X32 Anthony Bailey* X31 James Barnhart E26 Alphonzo Bazemore* X32 Joseph Beaver X47 James Bentley X47 Andrew Bird X47
M AY
Samuel Cherry X36 Sidney Clifford X31 James Cochran X44 Delton Collett X18 Raymond Collins X47 Douglas Cosby E56 Michael Crider E70 Walter Crist O39 Robert Dablemont X43 Robert Davis E22 Gary Derby E44 Loretta Dews O53 R Diggs T56 William Duke E92 Billy Dunn X43 William Dunnigan X31 Christopher Durand E83 Willie Earley E81 Yvonne Eason O53
JUNE
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Garrett Blanchette X01 Robert Bodett* O77 Laura Boire E56 Jack Boles* K46 Michael Bonevich E82 Amos Bordley III* K46 Vernon Bray X43 Donta Britt X36 Daniel Brooks* N910 Ruth Brown X31 Corey Brown X43 Joshua Bryant X44 Cheryl Byrum E81 Joseph Caden III O35 Adam Cartwright* K23 Michael Cleghorn* E56 Sidney Clifford Jr.* X31 Davionugh Clinkscales X73 Jerry Coles Jr. X44 Terri Cowan X31 James Crockarell Jr. T55 Tho Dang E84 James Davenport E51 James Desrosiers E10 John Dobbs* E21 Derek Doles X36 Robert Drevyanko X36 Mitchell Durant O35 Kevin Eck E83 Natasha Eck E83 Frank Edmonds X47 Thomas Edmonds* X32 Norman Effinger E70 Dellena Eisenhour* X47 Nicholas Eliopoulos O58 Patricia Emmons E49 Rahn Espiritu O67 Robert Evans O19 Steve Farmer O87 Efrem Fortes X31 Cory Antiwaine Francis X31 George Frasier E85 Shell French* X32 Lorna Gemmell X82 Arnold Gibbs Jr. X47 Carroll Goodwyn* X31 Douglas Gordon E56 Larry Gordon X43 Gregory Gore E86 Deborah Grant-Jenkins* E27 Arthur Gray Jr. E68 Brian Gross X47
JUNE
Paul Elmore O15 Douglas Eubanks K47 Milton Evans K48 John Fairbanks O03 Vernon Fajotina E92 Raymond Faulk X36 Carl Fischer E84 Melvin Fogg X18 Michael Frary X47 Mary Fulcher O53 Richard Gent X36 John Goffigan X36 Troy Gross X47 William Hamilton E14 Donald Hayden O03 Benjamin Hellier E12 Peggy Higgins O27 James Horrell X11 Gregory Howell X36
LONG SERVICE
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•
Catrina Hagwood* O51 Cassandra HaileyWashington X21 Warrel Hall X36 Darrell Harrell* X33 Christopher Harriman X43 Jack Harris Jr. O46 Wesley Harris E26 Milton Harvey Jr. X43 Betty Hazelwood X42 Stephen Helmer N910 Aaron Henderson E68 David Hoffman* E25 Michael Holliman Sr. X43 George Huggett III E85 Christopher Hughes E81 Richard Husted X21 Ryan Jenkins O52 Jesse Jennings O39 Gregory Jones X43 Michael Jones X44 Bonnie Jordan O53 Robert Jordan E26 Myra Joyner* X33 Denise Kelley* X32 Leslie Keys X42 Monica Lawrence E81 Andrew Lenig E25 Stanford Lewis Jr. X42 George Mainwaring X47 Denise Manley* X32 Burnell Manners K47 Donald Marcella O19 Shawna Mattocks* X51 Michelle Mayo-Hines O43 Brian Mcintyre E25 John Mckenney Jr. M53 Jason Mcmanes X47 Stacy Miller X43 Jean Moore* O51 Kevin Morgan* E22 Gary Nabors II* E12 Selcuk Nilufer K61 Julian Nixon E84 Shane Owens* X47 Stephen Pabst X22 Kevin Pallas K73 Thomas Palmer E98 Douglas Parker E08 Kevin Parker X01 Jonyal Peck* X31 Sharlene Perry E22
Dwayne Petty X36 Rhinda Piggee* O39 Todd Pobiak E83 James Poindexter O64 Richard Potter* E83 Kory Pyle X73 Cheryl Ralph X33 Gloria Raynor* X33 Natisha Reed X31 Darrin Reinke T51 Kevin Richardson X42 Glenn Rollins* O19 Willie Roundtree* X33 Jamie Russell E44 Karen Ryan T56 Elizabeth Scicchitano E46 William Sell E25 Jesse Seymore* E84 Jason Slaydon* X01 Keilah Smallwood* X32 Jeffrey Smith E56 Christopher Stewart* O43 Brian Stockunas X71 Lawrence Strunk* O36 Kenneth Sumner E08 Austin Taylor X43 Donny Taylor K93 Jack Taylor* X47 Mark Taylor X36 Sherelle Thomas X32 Michael Thornton X57 Mahlon Tibbs Jr.* K45 Richard Tierney O19 Willie Tillerson IV O41 Lisa Trombley T55 B Roland Tuff* X32 Katherine Valdez T53 Hermogenes Veranga E82 John Vobrak O19 Josephine Vu E44 Michael Walton E86 Camden West O64 Evans White Jr. E21 Fritz Whitfield X73 Steven Williams K46 Phillip Williams X43 Jake Williams Jr. X42 Kevin Wiltrout* E84 Glenn Wingate X43 Ming Yang* E70 *First Quarter Anniversary
RETIREMENTS
Herman Humphrey A572 Anita Jackson E08 Dallas Jenkins X42 Willie Johnson X36 Dwight Jones X36 Larry Jones O26 Rocky Jones O67 Emil Kercsi E83 John King E86 John Laroche O43 James Lassley O39 James Lewis E81 Eric Lewis X31 Edward Luther X47 Michael Mader E33 Kennon Marsh X32 Irevia Marshall O53 Gary Mccrickard O26 Ronald Mihilasky X15
Alvin Minor X11 Clyde Mitchell X31 Lemual Moody E25 Dennis Nodurft X18 Sheila Orgeron E22 Ronald Partain O54 Lionel Patterson X11 Walter Payne X44 John Portlock X44 Richard Potter E83 E Rehim O05 Anthony Richardson O43 Jeffrey Richardson O43 Richard Schwartz E42 Lavone Sessoms O14 James Sharp N960 James Shepherd X44 David Smith E85 Thad Smith X42
Ronald Spence X42 David Stabler N350 Joseph Sterne X43 Anna Syragaki E03 Eddie Tate X36 Robert Thomas X31 Mark Tice X11 Jeffery Trimbur E83 Michael Trunk E83 David Van Petten E83 Anthony Vasko X36 Avelino Vizconde E25 Shirley Willis O14 Willie Williams X36 Alvin Wilson X31 Egbert Wilson X11 Percy Wilson X36 Ricky Yarborough X33 Michael Yelle T54