Sept. 27, 2021 by Newport News Shipbuilding

9 l 27 l 2021

A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding

Photo by Ashley Cowan

Full House

COVID-19 Vaccination Deadline is Dec. 8

Newport News Shipbuilding is busier than it has been in at least four decades, with work underway for more than 30 U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines. The photo above shows the aircraft carriers that currently line the shipyard’s waterfront.

Celebrating PEER Program Success Stories Newport News Shipbuilding’s Professional Enhancement Enrichment Rotation (PEER) Program is congratulating two participants – Kevin Holland and Jasmine Bracey – on their recent promotions to construction supervisors. Holland and Bracey are the latest success stories of the PEER program’s increased focus on “purposeful development.” Purposeful development includes close collaboration between the PEER program office, PEER participants and the highly engaged host managers like superintendents Paul Hecker and Bryan Heverly. The program supports individual career goals while also building a pipeline of internal candidates for positions at NNS. CONTINUED ON PG 2

Shipbuilders must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8, Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters wrote in a message to employees Sept. 24. It followed the release of updated guidance regarding the government’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors. HII is a federal contractor because it provides services to military and government customers through federal contracts. For that reason, the company is bound by any regulations, policies and contractual provisions that apply to all federal contractors. The company will continue to help unvaccinated employees meet this requirement and share details and guidance as they become available.

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Celebrating PEER Program Success Stories CONTINUED FROM PG 1

“The PEER Program continues to support participants’ desires to find job fulfillment while providing fully developed candidates for hiring managers across the enterprise,” said Gary Figg, PEER program manager. PEER candidates traditionally approach the program with one of the following objectives: • Participate in rotations aligned with their current role and a desire to accelerate readiness for future opportunities. • Participate in rotations aligned with new degrees or certifications and a desire to gain firsthand experience in positions in a new career path. • Participate in a variety of rotations to discover their ultimate job fulfillment. Holland joined the PEER Program’s Cohort 13 as a welding instructor with the goal of exploring new career opportunities. He participated in a variety of rotations that allowed him to explore roles in planning and project management. “You will only learn your true potential when you are out of your comfort zone,” Holland said.

Pictured from left are Paul Hecker, Jasmine Bracey, Kevin Holland and Bryan Heverly.

Holland’s manager. Bracey joined the PEER Program’s Cohort 14 as an engineering technician to fulfill a specific career goal. “Be the change and make the difference,” she said. “As leaders, we have to set the tone, be willing to do the things no one else is willing to do effectively and efficiently.”

His final two rotations included construction supervisor roles with Structural Fabrication & Assembly (X10) and the VirginiaClass Submarine (VCS) Program (X82). Those experiences helped him realize that serving in a construction leadership role was his ultimate job fulfillment.

She participated in project management roles that included Facilities (O41) and VCS (X82). The rotations allowed Bracey to demonstrate current knowledge, skills and abilities while preparing for a new position as a construction supervisor. “The leadership principles Jasmine obtained during previous PEER Program rotations have enabled her to transition into construction supervisor responsibilities effectively,” said Hecker, Bracey’s manager.

“Kevin’s story is truly inspirational. A little over two years ago he set a goal to become a construction supervisor. The PEER Program provided him the conduit to progressively build upon his existing leadership – to where he is now part of a strong team of construction supervisors for VCS,” said Heverly, who is

The PEER Program is a two-year rotation program for salaried, individual contributors. It includes four different rotations in sixmonth cycles. The program is accepting nominations for the next cohort. To learn more, visit the PEER website or attend an upcoming learn at lunch or open house event.

VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Newport News Shipbuilding’s Learning Organization is hosting its first Learning Actively, Supporting and Strengthening Others (LASSO) virtual leadership conference beginning Sept. 28. All sessions for the conference – titled Mission Possible: Agile Leadership in an Ever Changing Environment – are 30 minutes, and participants have several options from which to choose. The conference kicks off at 4 p.m. and sessions begin at 4:10 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. on Sept. 28 and Oct. 12. Register, see topics and a lineup of presenters for the dates below on MyNNS. •

Sept. 28

•

Oct. 12

Please note: To attend sessions, employees must have access to a company laptop, tablet or computer. For more information, contact Vickie Robinson at 757-871-7917 or via email or Michael McClellan at 757-705-8408 or via email.

Fall College Recruiting Kicks Off Newport News Shipbuilding Talent Acquisition is kicking off the fall 2021 college recruiting season participating in both on-site and virtual recruiting events. NNS will network with students attending the following schools and universities: Christopher Newport University, Hampton University, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina State University, Old Dominion University, United States Merchant Marine Academy, University of Akron, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University and the College of William & Mary. NNS will begin accepting applications for 2022 summer internship programs Oct. 1. Students graduating this December or next May are encouraged to search buildyourcareer.com for entry-level opportunities. Visit huntingtoningalls.com/hii-careers/co-op-internship-opportunities for more information.

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AROUND THE YARD October is National Quality Month October is National Quality Month. Each week during the month, Currents will feature quality-related articles. Below is a message from Ron Murray, vice president of Quality. In 1984, with a joint resolution by Congress and a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan, the American Society of Quality (ASQ) designated October as National Quality Month. This allows us to use the month of October to focus on the strategic importance of both quality and continuous improvement. A solid foundation of first time quality with a focus of always looking for improvement is not only critically important in the great ships we design and build, but also critically important in the engagement of our workforce and interface with our customers. Newport News Shipbuilding has a longstanding history of affirming its commitment to quality. In 1917, the tone for quality was set with the unveiling of the Huntington Memorial “rock” affixed with a plaque that reads, “We shall build good ships here, at a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but always good ships.” Those famous words are as true today as they were in 1917. When the U.S. Navy

is called to action, the ships we deliver must perform as designed. The men and women who serve on our ships deserve nothing less. We typically measure our quality by inspection and oversight in our production areas. However, the quality of these complex ships we deliver is dependent on our quality all along the value stream. The quality of the design, the material, the plan, the production processes, our training and our management team are absolutely critical to the success of our production workforce. October being quality month gives us the opportunity to pause and recognize that we all are responsible for quality and ask, “What does first time quality mean to me?” In observance of Quality Month, the Quality division will again sponsor Quality Craftsman recognition, where craftsman across the enterprise will be acknowledged as demonstrating first-time quality in their daily work practices. In addition, the Quality division will be posting banners at gates across the yard to remind us that “Quality – It’s In Your Hands.”

NNS Seeks Nominations for Diversity Conferences Newport News Shipbuilding takes pride in celebrating shipbuilders by participating and recognizing success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through the participation in national conventions and award conferences. Through this effort, NNS supports six major STEM Diversity Conferences each year. Twice a year, NNS requests nominations of employees who have and are making significant contributions to the company to be recognized during these diversity conferences. Nominations for the conferences listed below are open from Oct. 1 until Dec. 15. Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE): To celebrate diversity on campuses and in the workplace, SASE recognizes the great achievements that Asian Pacific Islander Americans students and professionals are doing in their respective worlds. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): SHPE aims to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to its full potential in STEM awareness. SHPE was created to bring awareness, provide access and prepare Hispanics for a career in STEM. Women of Color (WOC): The WOC STEM Conference recognizes outstanding women and provides opportunities for professional development, networking and recruiting. To learn more about nominating an employee, visit the Diversity Conference and Awards website.

Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

Cases reported last week: 138

Total cases at NNS: 4,548

NNS employees medically cleared to return to work: 3,504

NNS employees vaccinated: 58%

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

An Achievable Dream Thanks Shipbuilders for School Supplies An Achievable Dream is among the community partners distributing supplies donated during the 2021 School Tools Drive. “The supplies provided will further support our Dreamers across all grade levels as they learn, grow, and achieve. Over the years, An Achievable Dream and Newport News Shipbuilding have worked extensively to ensure our Dreamers in Newport News have all that they need to succeed, and this is yet another example of their outstanding support and belief in our students and program,” said Lee Vreeland, president and CEO of An Achievable Dream. “Our thanks go out to all the shipbuilders and executives for every contribution they’ve made over the years, and we are so grateful for our longstanding partnership.”

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DATEBOOK THROUGH OCTOBER 8

Shipbuilders have an opportunity to participate in this year’s employee engagement survey through Oct. 8. Employees with company computer access should have received an email from Gallup inviting them to participate. Employees without company computer access are taking the survey at a designated time with their crew during work hours. These employees will need to use their MyID to take the survey and are encouraged to access the survey on their mobile device or by logging on to a computer at one of the survey centers set up across the shipyard.

SEPTEMBER 29

The Professional Enhancement and Enrichment Rotation (PEER) Program is hosting a learn at lunch WebEx event for potential candidates from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The program is open to salaried individual contributors. To sign up, visit the PEER Program website on MyNNS.

SEPTEMBER 29

Join Engineering & Design, Cassandra Bonner and Evelyn Gregory (O18) from noon until 12:30 p.m. for a Virtual Learning Session on the Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Strategic Plan. The ED&I Strategic Plan is the blueprint to develop an inclusive workplace built on mutual respect, an appreciation of diversity, and a commitment to equity. This event takes place during lunch and is voluntary. No charge will be provided. Sign up on MyNNS to receive a calendar invite to attend. For questions and concerns, email E&D Connections.

SEPTEMBER 29

The NNS Lean Community of Practice (CoP) cordially invites shipbuilders to attend its Chapter 3: Life Hacks: How Lean Solves Everyday Frustrations event from 4:30 until 6 p.m. via WebEx. Have you ever felt frustrated doing a certain task or completing a process at work? Have you ever tried to identify the root of your problem? Join Amy Lynne Roosien, Lean sensei, and guest speaker Brian Tapajna, industrial engineer, to hear their thoughts on how to identify a problem, what Lean techniques you can use and how Lean impacts everyday life. Register on MyNNS.

OCTOBER 1

The 17th annual In-Service Aircraft Carrier Invitational golf tournament will be held at Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg. The format is four-man captain’s choice, with a check-in time of 10 a.m. and a noon shotgun start. The entry fee for this event is $125 per player, which includes green fee, cart, range balls, welcome bag, Aircraft Carrier Invitational shirt and post-tournament dinner. Proceeds from this event will benefit the USO. To register, contact Bruce Roberts at 380-4964 or via email.

OCTOBER 2

The 32nd annual Virginia Children’s Festival will be held at Town Point Park in Norfolk from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event, designed with children 10 and younger in mind, includes more than 100 fun, creative and interactive activities. Admission is $5 and free for children age 1 and younger.

OCTOBER 2

Shipbuilders are invited to join Newport News Shipbuilding’s employee resource groups and The Apprentice School football team for a day of fun and comradery at Builder Field (Bldg. 601). The game starts at 1 p.m., and the stadium opens at noon. COVID-19 protocols will be in place.

OCTOBER 4

The L.E.A.R.N. Program and the Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG) will host an after-work presentation with Brian Fields, vice president of Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) Aircraft Carrier Programs, from 4 to 5 p.m. via WebEx. The event is open to all employees by reservation only. Sign up on the L.E.A.R.N. website. No charge is provided. For questions, contact Tanika Vasquez (E08) at 688-7916 or Chris Porro (X51) at 534-0332 or email LEARN@hii-nns.com.

OCTOBER 6

OCTOBER 11

The Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) offices invite shipbuilders to join their monthly ED&I Together Strong Life Unites Panel Discussion Series: Mental Health & Wellness, from 4:30 until 6 p.m. via Zoom. Panelists include Amanda Wells (K17), Nicole Goldman of the Technical Solutions division, HII Benefits Manager Amy Iveson and Mike Altrogge (E84) of the Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG). This event is open to all NNS employees. Register on MyNNS. No charge will be provided. Email DiversityAndInclusion@hii-nns.com with questions.

OCTOBER 13

Join the Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG) from 12 until 12:30 p.m. to celebrate the U.S. Navy’s birthday and discuss the importance of being “Resilient and Ready.” Gary Fuller, vice president of Fleet Support Programs, will lead the discussion. Note: This is a lunch and learn event, and no charge information will be provided. Register on MyNNS. WebEx number is 990 638 651. Invites with be sent out 24 hours before the event for those who are registered. For more information, contact Mike Altrogge via email.

OCTOBER 14

The Hispanic Outreach and Leadership Alliance (HOLA) is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a number of activities. The main event, Hispanic Americans Lecture Series Redux Heritage and Hope: Shipbuilder’s Perspective, will be held from 4:30 until 6 p.m. Oct. 14 via Zoom. The meeting ID is 841 0145 9551.

OCTOBER 17

The Mariners Club at NNS is holding its annual golf tournament at the Kingsmill Resort’s River Course. Checkin begins at 7 a.m. with a buffet breakfast (included) served from 7 until 8:30 a.m. The tournament is a fourman captain’s choice format, and there will be a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Proceeds will support local charities. Contact Rudy Hendricks (X21) via email to request a registration form. Only the first 32 teams will be accepted.

OCTOBER 20

VIRGINIA LIVING MUSEUM TICKETS

Newport News Shipbuilding held drawings for employees to receive tickets for free, unlimited admission to the Virginia Living Museum for six people for one year. David Hansch (E42) won the final drawing for the tickets, and Amanda Sutton (X73) won an NNS-branded swag bag consolation prize.

SEEKING SHIPBUILDERS

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

Job Title

Req Number

Dept.

Location

CNC Machinist (Experienced) Fitter (Trainee, Entry-level & Experienced) Manager Occupational Health & Safety 3 Pipefitter (Trainee, Entry-level & Experienced) Product Trainer 2 Media Production Rep 2 Rigger (Entry-level & Experienced) Safety Technician 3 Sheet Metal Worker (Trainee, Entry-level, & Experienced) Welder (Trainee, Entry-level & Experienced)

8771 9044, 8814, 9029 9427 9586, 9604, 9605 9027 9025 8664, 8665 9225 8626, 8628, 8627 8685, 8645, 8644

M53 X11 O27 X42 O39 O29 X36 O27 X32 X18

Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News Newport News 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.