2014 Annual Report
The Apprentice School
2014 Annual Report
3 Leadership Messages 5 Director’s Message
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Professional Development Program
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Building Careers, Shaping Futures
6 At-a-Glance 8 Administration 10 Craftsmanship 22 Scholarship 36 Leadership
Craftsmanship Scholarship Leadership
Contributors: J.D. Drewry, Jim Heath, Jacob Johnston, Will Prescott, Steve Stallings and Vince Warren Editor: April Shockley Kiehl Graphic Designer: Troy Cooper Photographers: Troy Cooper, Dar Deerfield Mook, Chris Oxley, Ricky Thompson and John Whalen
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Leadership Messages Newport News Shipbuilding’s Apprentice School is one of the most visible elements of Huntington Ingalls Industries’ robust workforce development strategy. While it provides opportunities for men and women to learn a variety of shipbuilding trades, as well as the important craft of leadership, it’s also a critical tool we use at HII to maintain a pipeline of skilled employees in Virginia. I’m proud of The Apprentice School’s rich history at Newport News Shipbuilding and excited about the role it will continue to play as we position HII for the future. _Mike Petters, President and CEO Huntington Ingalls Industries
At Newport News Shipbuilding, our talented and highly-skilled workforce continue to be our company’s greatest strength. The Apprentice School serves as our leadership academy, providing a first-class education while attracting the best and brightest talent. This highly-competitive school develops the world’s finest shipbuilders and our company’s future leaders. Today, three vice presidents on my staff are proud Apprentice School graduates, and 44 percent of our production leadership team also hold this distinction. The investments we have made and will continue to make in our students and in the school itself are charting the course for another 129 years of success. _Matt Mulherin, President Newport News Shipbuilding
For close to a century, The Apprentice School has provided its students with a wide range of opportunities in craft specialization and academics as well as the unparalleled opportunity to work alongside and learn from America’s best shipbuilders. As a graduate of The Apprentice School Class of 1978, I know first-hand how The Apprentice School has enabled my career. Starting out as a painter and working my way through leadership roles across the shipyard was made possible because of the knowledge, skills and pride of workmanship I attained from The Apprentice School. Today, as we celebrate the graduation of our 10,000th apprentice, we believe the opportunities for our students to excel and prosper have never been greater. _Ray Bagley, Vice President, Trades Operations Newport News Shipbuilding
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DIrector’s Message For more than 95 years, The Apprentice School has developed highly-skilled shipbuilders, those who are eager to tackle the toughest jobs and wholly committed to safely producing first time quality. This reputation is fostered through a longstanding commitment to craftsmanship, scholarship and leadership and the opportunities for personal, professional and educational growth available during the four- to eight-year registered apprenticeships offered by the school. Opportunities seized by apprentices during the past year are diverse and reflect The Apprentice School’s commitment to preparing the next generation of shipbuilding leaders: • Craftsmanship - Faculty, staff and apprentices proved their understanding of the relationship between quality and safety when they made 2014 the safest year in the school’s history while supporting a variety of ship construction and overhaul projects, including the USS John Warner (SSN 785) and the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). • Scholarship - An additional 10 apprentices were selected for the Professional Development Program, a program culminating in a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Old Dominion University, and 74 current apprentices and recent graduates earned associate degrees from Thomas Nelson Community College. • Leadership - Members of the inaugural cohort of Frontline FAST, the school’s premier leadership development program, were promoted to supervisor positions, roles in which they will coach their fellow shipbuilders to grow as craftsmen. As you can see, apprentices not only met high standards for conduct and performance, but they continued to make choices that will position them well for career advancement. Enjoy learning more about how The Apprentice School creates opportunities for apprentices to develop as shipbuilders, scholars and community members and prepares them to create opportunities for others upon completion of their apprenticeship— all while honoring the legacy of the school and its commitment to craftsmanship, scholarship and leadership. Everett H. Jordan Jr. Director, Education Newport News Shipbuilding The Apprentice School Class of 1977
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At-a- Glance Founded in 1919 at Newport News Shipbuilding, The Apprentice School offers four- to eight-year apprenticeships in 19 shipbuilding disciplines and eight optional advanced programs of study. The Apprentice School is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education and registered with the Virginia Apprenticeship Council. The school affords apprentices the opportunity to receive competitive pay and benefits, earn college credit, learn a trade and develop a lifelong commitment to craftsmanship, scholarship and leadership.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Apprentices spend a minimum of 7,000 hours learning a shipbuilding discipline and play an integral role in the construction, maintenance and overhaul of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.
SCHOLARSHIP
Apprentices build a strong academic foundation during their completion of the World Class Shipbuilder Curriculum and Trade Related Education Curriculum, complementing on-the-job training in a shipbuilding discipline.
LEADERSHIP
Apprentices become leaders as they grow in their commitment to The Apprentice School’s leadership principles of integrity, commitment, improvement, respect, teamwork, empowerment, communication, planning and decision making.
MISSION
The mission of The Apprentice School is: • To contribute to the profitability and growth of Newport News Shipbuilding by recruiting, training and developing men and women for careers in shipbuilding. • To provide the company with a continuous supply of journeypersons who possess the skills, knowledge and pride of workmanship which have traditionally distinguished the shipbuilding craftsman. • To develop core leadership principles in all students along with the character and technical competence that is required to fully meet the challenges of a shipbuilding career.
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Core Values The Apprentice School has been committed to achieving the highest standards for craftsmanship, scholarship and leadership for more than 95 years. This commitment is honored by a strict adherence to the company values of Huntington Ingalls Industries:
INTEGRITY
Integrity is at the heart of who we are and what we do. We are each personally accountable for the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We will fulfill our commitments as responsible citizens and employees. We will consistently treat customers and company resources with the respect they deserve.
SAFETY
We value our employees above all else and will not compromise on maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for them. We expect everyone to actively participate and take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them. Employees can report safety concerns without fear of reprisal and are empowered to stop work if an operation presents significant risk or danger. We continuously evaluate and improve our operations to understand and mitigate risk.
HONESTY
We are committed to being honest and fair with our customers, our employees, our stockholders and each other. We will be truthful, trustworthy and honorable in all aspects of our work.
ENGAGEMENT
We are committed to an engaged workforce. Our employees are very involved in what they do and take ownership of their work and their work processes. Engagement is a heightened level of ownership where employees want to do whatever they can for the benefit of their internal and external customers, and for the success of the organization as a whole.
RESPONSIBILITY
We seek and accept personal responsibility for our actions and results. We keep promises and commitments made to others. We are responsible for ensuring quality is a component of everything we do. We take pride in providing outstanding customer service.
PERFORMANCE
We hold ourselves to a very high standard of performance. We are committed to improving our company’s performance while upholding our strong values. Superior performance and quality ensure future trust and confidence in our products. We promote continuous improvement, innovation and creativity.
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Administration
VINCE WARREN Manager, Craft Training Class of 1987
JAMES H. HUGHES, PH.D. Manager, Academics
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KEISHA PEXTON
Manager, Strategic Projects, and Athletic Director Class of 2003
DAN BROOKMAN Manager, Admissions and Student Services Class of 1976
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Craftsmanship
WASHINGTON KEEL LAYING Welder Apprentice Dustin Utecht participated in the keel laying ceremony for the Washington (SSN 787), the latest Virginia-class submarine to be built at Newport News Shipbuilding. During the ceremony, Utecht welded the initials of the submarine’s sponsor Elisabeth Mabus on a plate to be affixed to the ship’s keel. Utecht hails from Richland, Washington, and is a participant in The Apprentice School’s Advanced Shipyard Operations Curriculum, one of the school’s optional advanced programs.
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“I am proud to watch our students become expert mechanics in their respective fields and then move into management positions with the company. The Apprentice School has a strong, ingrained culture of hard work, fairness and integrity. Our graduates are without a doubt the most qualified individuals to run this company. Their collective experiences prepare them for virtually any challenge they may face in their shipbuilding career.”
– Ron Liles Manager, Product Training, and Master Shipbuilder (Class of 1976)
CATAPULT WELDING Welder Craft Instructor Vernon Eason and his apprentice crew, including Welder Apprentice James Childers, completed the challenging job of welding the catapult troughs on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during the aircraft carrier’s Refueling and Complex Overhaul. The crew welded more than 16,000 holes, the equivalent of a oneeighth-inch weld bead more than 250 miles long, and only one minor injury was sustained during the 10-month job. Eason streamlined the process and positioned equipment for his crew to work safely and efficiently, minimizing the overall effect on the catapult schedule.
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EXOTHERMIC WELDING Electrician Apprentices Nicholas Sarcone, Joseph Cole and Matthew Shahlamian, Electrician Craft Instructor Paul Newton (left to right) and Electrician Apprentice James Conti were the first Newport News Shipbuilding employees to obtain an exothermic welding qualification, and they began performing production welds in May. Exothermic welding, a highly specialized welding process and critical qualification, supports the Electromagnetic Launch System of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).
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“While working with a cleanliness team of management, engineers and trade representatives, we examined ways to clean installed components but kept facing the problems of hazardous waste and expensive set-up costs. We were told water would not work, but we tried using it. Amazingly, water worked. With the proper technique, it would clean to the required specifications without risk. We saved the company money and protected workers from hazardous chemicals.”
– Lewis Rich Nuclear Designer Apprentice
MAKE-UP FOREMAN Welding Equipment Repair Apprentice Joshua Connly demonstrated exceptional initiative as a make-up foreman during a Welding Equipment Integration rotation. With the assistance of a welding equipment repair mechanic, Connly discovered welding lines on a new equipment rack were generating large magnetic fields, causing adjacent connectors to move and shut down. Connly worked diligently with vendors to resolve the issue and prevent disruptions to production.
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“MODULE OF EXCELLENCE” Welder Craft Instructor Kendall Ridenour and his apprentice crew, including Welder Apprentice Ben Benavides-Evans (left), were among shipbuilders working on the Virginia-class submarine Washington (SSN 787) to receive the first “Module of Excellence” award. The monthly award distributed by the Virginia-Class Submarine Safety Task Team recognizes crews that exemplify safety, cleanliness and line control on VCS submarine modules under construction. Director, VCS Construction/Facilities, Bob Meyer awarded the crew a banner to hang in their work area in acknowledgment of their efforts to promote a cleaner, safer workplace.
CVN 78 SAFETY SLOGAN The crew of Electrician Craft Instructor Ken Logan was chosen as one of two winners of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Safety Slogan Contest. “Safety is always aboard the Gerald R. Ford” was the winning slogan developed by Electrician Apprentice Courtney Phaup. Logan, Phaup and their crew received jackets for their contribution to Newport News Shipbuilding’s ongoing efforts to promote workplace safety.
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“Knowing that I play a part in helping new apprentices complete the program and ultimately become leaders of the company is the best part of working at The Apprentice School. It is a great feeling to see them grow in confidence and maturity during their time as apprentices and especially rewarding to coach those selected to be a part of Frontline FAST and recruit candidates for our new Professional Development Program.” – Tom Prewitt Welder Craft Instructor (Class of 2007)
IMPROVED MOUNTING METHOD At the request of Industrial Engineer Stan Reams, Electrician Apprentice Josh Hasty (pictured) demonstrated an improved equipment mounting method to be used by multiple trades at the shipyard. During the demonstration, Hasty was responsible for everything from setting up the stud machine to shooting the studs. The new method uses standoff studs instead of welded clips or chalks to mount electrical panels and will significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency.
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CAREER PLANNING Welder Apprentices Robb Borowicz and Mason Karafa were featured in an article published in the 2015 edition of R U College & Career Ready? magazine, a publication distributed to Virginia high school sophomores to use as they begin setting their postsecondary education and career goals. The article describes the growing job prospects for manufacturing careers and profiles Borowicz and Karafa. Before their apprenticeship, they attended T. H. Badger Technical Center in Onley, Virginia, and competed in SkillsUSA welding competitions, making The Apprentice School an ideal beginning to their shipbuilding careers.
“The Apprentice School provides so many different professional opportunities and educational routes for apprentices. It is unique in that there is something for everyone. Having worked as a pipefitter and with other trades on the ship is definitely proving to be useful as I apply these experiences in my current position as a cost estimator.”
– Kristee Arceo Cost Estimator Apprentice
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OPERATIONS FINANCE ROTATION Sheet Metal Worker Apprentice Jessica Barber (pictured working in Newport News Shipbuilding’s Sail Loft) brought her waterfront experience to a special rotation in the company’s Operations Finance department. During the rotation, Barber created a program to compile and verify charges for the Sheet Metal Component Fabrication and Assembly program. At the conclusion of the rotation, Barber was recognized for her strong work ethic, selfdiscipline and professionalism by Manager, Operations Finance, Taylor Morgan.
CiWP TEAM Non-destructive Test Inspector Apprentice Francisco Sisneros was chosen to serve on a Common integrated Work Package Team tasked with utilizing a touch screen tablet to perform real-time inspection sign-off at the worksite. Making connections between his work in the classroom and on the waterfront, Sisneros explored his team’s project for a problemsolving research assignment in his World Class Shipbuilder Curriculum communications course. Sisneros demonstrated the touch screen tablet’s capability for Newport News Shipbuilding senior management, further drawing on his coursework to plan and deliver the demonstrations with confidence.
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TRADE SHOW DISPLAYS Sheet Metal Worker Apprentices Nate Dolan, Arynn Easom, Capres Amory and Dale Blankenship (left to right) were among team members chosen by Sheet Metal Worker Craft Instructor Steve Norman (far right) to develop trade show displays for Newport News Shipbuilding’s Technology Development department. The design and construction of the displays, which made their debut at the Submarine Technology Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland, reflects the inherent precision and artistry of the sheet metal trade.
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“When initially asked to be a make-up foreman, I thought it would be for a day or so, but it ended up lasting 120 days. I learned so much being out on the deck plate. I was also shocked because I didn’t think I had what it takes to be a foreman. That opportunity opened a lot of doors for me when I finished my apprenticeship, and I will never forget it.”
– Ebony Armstrong Coatings Specialist Craft Instructor (Class of 2013)
CONNECTICUT MODIFICATION Rigger Craft Instructor Jarrod Burke, Riggers Garon Johnson, Glen Jones, Derrick Daughtry and Xavier Towns and Rigger Apprentices Jeremy Bradley and Daniel Sheridan traveled to Seattle, Wash., to move new electronic equipment necessary to complete modifications to the USS Connecticut (SSN 22), a Seawolf-class submarine. Sheridan developed a sled with Teflon coated runners to move equipment that weighed up to 2,000 pounds. The team refined the tool, enabling more than 80 pieces of equipment to be moved through the submarine without accident or injury.
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CiWP PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Using the skills they learned during The Apprentice School Leadership Experience at the College of William & Mary, Sheet Metal Foreman Chris Spanos, Welder Craft Instructor Andrew Balarabe and Coatings Specialist Craft Instructor Van Gentry (left to right) are leaders in their trade and on the Common integrated Work Package Team. They are graduates of the school’s Advanced Shipyard Operations Curriculum optional advanced program and are 3 of the 15 Apprentice School graduates on the team developing CiWP products to provide clear instructions and increase consistency on the deck plate.
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FRONTLINE FAST On Dec. 15, The Apprentice School hosted a completion ceremony for the 23 apprentices who form the inaugural cohort of Frontline FAST (Foreman Accelerated Skills Training), the school’s premier leadership development program. The 16-month program uses a blended approach of craft competencies, leadership practices and coaching to develop high performing apprentices for frontline supervisor positions.
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ScholarSHIP
10,000TH GRADUATE Dimensional Control Technician Sara Ruggles is The Apprentice School’s 10,000th graduate. Ruggles began her shipbuilding career as a pipefitter apprentice. Because of her excellent job performance and academic record, Ruggles was selected to participate in the Advanced Shipyard Operations Curriculum, one of The Apprentice School’s optional advanced programs. Additionally, Ruggles was selected for a Tiger Team trip to Groton, Connecticut, where she and Metrology Technician Joe Schiavone mapped the as-built conditions of the USS Hartford (SSN 768), a Los-Angelesclass submarine.
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CHARLES D. HOUDASHELL SR. SCHOLARSHIP Welder Andrew Kunk (Class of 2011) was the 2014-2015 recipient of the Charles D. Houdashell Sr. Memorial Scholarship. Kunk is a full-time employee of Newport News Shipbuilding and a full-time student at Christopher Newport University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Given in memory of Charles D. Houdashell Sr. (Class of 1975), the scholarship is awarded to a graduate of the Apprentice School who is continuing his or her education at CNU.
NBPI PAINT INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION Coatings Specialist Apprentices Heather Kenning (pictured) and LaShonda Newsome passed the Navy Basic Paint Inspector exam and are certified to inspect critical coated areas on naval vessels. The five-day NBPI course included instruction in conducting post-blast and presurface preparation coatings inspections and culminated in two multiple choice exams and a practical exam using inspection instruments. Kenning and Newsome’s experience applying trade theory in a shipbuilding production environment made them especially well prepared for success in the NBPI course.
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SNAME BOAT DESIGN COMPETITION April 26 marked The Apprentice School’s Student Section of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers 7th Annual Boat Design Competition. Twentynine teams from 18 Virginia high schools competed for four finalist positions. Recent graduate Sheet Metal Worker Linwood Joyner Jr. and Sheet Metal Worker Apprectice Dezmond Kee (left to right) were among apprentices who fabricated finalists’ boats. The vessels were raced in Lake Maury, located in Newport News, Virginia. Team About Time, one of two teams representing Jamestown High School, won the competition.
SEN. KAINE’S TOUR Newport News Shipbuilding President and CEO Matt Mulherin, Vice President, Operations, Danny Hunley and Director, Education, Everett Jordan hosted Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., for an Aug. 27 tour of The Apprentice School and discussion about Career and Technical Education. During the visit, Hunley, Jordan and Kaine (left to right) spoke with apprentices about the educational and professional opportunities available to apprentices, the rigor of The Apprentice School’s registered apprenticeship programs and the value of CTE.
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SME/RAPID CONFERENCE Marine Designer Apprentice Daniel Chance (pictured) and Professional Development Program and Marine Engineer Apprentice Angel DeGuzman attended the annual Society of Manufacturing Engineers/ RAPID conference in Detroit, Mich. Chance and DeGuzman are president and vice president, respectively, of The Apprentice School’s SME student chapter. Paul Norton, engineering technician and one of two SME chapter advisors, also attended the June 9-12 conference. The conference focused on advancements in engineering, emphasizing the field of 3-D printing and its use in different manufacturing processes.
“I remember an apprentice who struggled academically. No matter how much time he spent in extra help, he continued to struggle but always had a great attitude, never gave up and worked as hard as any student I’ve ever taught. Midway through physics, everything came together. He still spent significant time in the extra help room—not receiving help, but giving it—paying forward what was given to him. His work ethic and perseverance turned major obstacles into huge successes, and seeing him graduate was a highlight of my career with the school.”
– Garry Carter, Ed.D. Manager, Training, and Academic Instructor
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TOURING THE FERRY FLEET Nuclear Designer Apprentices Dat Luong and Andrew Hathaway, Dimensional Control Technician Apprentice Ryan Saloka, Virginia Department of Transportation Facility Manager G. Wes Ripley, Outside Machinist Apprentice Ricardo Palacios and Shipfitter Apprentice Calvin Warner (left to right) toured the Virginia, one of four ferries in the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet. Apprentices applied information from the tour and their naval architecture coursework to design a diesel-electric monohull ferry and entered the design in the Worldwide Ferry Association’s 2014 International Student Design Competition for Safe Affordable Ferries.
NATIONAL ATE CONFERENCE The Apprentice School was well represented at the American Association of Community College’s 21st National Advanced Technological Education Principal Investigators Conference, held October 2014 in Washington, D.C. During the conference, College/ University Program Liaison Todd Estes (right) participated in an industry roundtable and a panel about registered apprenticeship. Modeling and Simulation Analyst Apprentice Jeremy Hancock (left), who also represented Tidewater Community College, was recognized as a student scholar and manned a booth where he shared information about the opportunities available at The Apprentice School.
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VAAA SCHOLARSHIP Non-Destructive Test Inspector Gary Garner (third from right), a 2014 alumnus of The Apprentice School, received a Virginia Apprenticeship Alumni Association scholarship to continue his education. Garner is pursuing a master’s degree in architecture from Hampton University. During an Oct. 1 visit to The Apprentice School, HU deans Eric J. Sheppard and Almarie E. Munley; VAAA President Norris Williams (left to right); and HU Academic Coordinator Tunisha George-Twine and HU Director, Accelerated Learning, Quentin B. Jackson (second from right and far right, respectively) recognized Garner’s achievement.
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“Apprentices have a fantastic opportunity to obtain an education while learning a skill and building a career. Every day there are new prospects if you are receptive to them and willing to continue to grow and learn. Additionally, an opportunity that you thought had passed forever may present itself again in the future. It may have been that you were not ready for the situation when it originally occurred.”
– Cynthia Lear Manager, Training, and Academic Instructor
WIATT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Bryan Smith, a welder graduate and member of the Class of 2012, received BayPort Credit Union’s Wiatt Memorial Scholarship, a $1,500 scholarship for a graduate of The Apprentice School who is pursuing a postsecondary degree and currently employed by Newport News Shipbuilding or on educational leave from the company. Smith, an honors graduate of The Apprentice School, used the funds to begin a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Old Dominion University.
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MODEL DESIGN COMPETITION Electrician Apprentice Michael Fahy and Modeling & Simulation Analyst Apprentices Josh Dean, Chris Herman and Brad Joslin traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to compete in the June 15-18 American Society for Engineering Education Model Design Competition. The competition required teams to build robots capable of detecting and navigating around wooden obstacles while racing around an oval track during four 60-second time trials.
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TRAINING SPECIAL ROTATION Rigger Apprentice Brandon Mosher completed a special rotation as a Production & Maintenance Skills Training instructor. The rotation required Mosher to work during the second shift, a departure from the usual first shift work schedule of apprentices, to help the Waterfront Support Services department address a training backlog. Serving as a training instructor during an apprenticeship is a unique opportunity, and Mosher gained valuable training experience and a broadened perspective of the training process.
“I see instructors mentor and encourage apprentices to reach their goals while giving them the life tools to be successful. Today, many of our graduates are success stories in management—vice presidents, trade directors and craft and academic instructors. When they started, none of them probably envisioned the leadership position they would one day hold or how successful they would be.”
– Liz Moriarty Admin Functional Support
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SEA-AIR-SPACE EXPOSITION Marine Designer Apprentice Robert Page participated in the Navy League’s April 7-9 Sea-Air-Space Exposition in National Harbor, Maryland. With the guidance of representatives from Newport News Shipbuilding’s Technology Development department, Page demonstrated a portion of the shipyard’s augmented reality project. The project uses digital overlay of imagery to support production, training, maintenance and operations, and improve safety, quality, cost and schedule.
“Academic classes and waterfront training are combined to provide me with the best possible preparation for the opportunities offered by Newport News Shipbuilding. It is difficult to find this kind of opportunity outside The Apprentice School. I feel I am being prepared to one day become a foreman, to be a leader and to continue my education.” – Nicholas Schneider Welder Apprentice
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GRADUATION Homer L. Ferguson Award winner and Patternmaker Tim Owens delivered the valedictory address during the commencement exercises for the Class of 2013. The award is named for the founder of The Apprentice School and is bestowed upon the graduate with the highest combined craft and required academics grade point average.
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COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President, Operations, Danny Hunley delivered the commencement address. A member of the Class of 1977, Hunley shared lessons learned during his career and encouraged the 137 members of the Class of 2013 to always remember the importance of their work as shipbuilders.
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Professional Development Program FORMALIZING THE PROGRAM Newport News Shipbuilding and The Apprentice School hosted representatives from Old Dominion University for an April 23 ceremony to formalize the Professional Development Program. The PDP is a five- to eight-year marine engineer apprenticeship, culminating in a bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering from ODU. During the event, Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President, Operations, Danny Hunley (foreground) and ODU President John Broderick signed a memorandum of understanding to commemorate the partnership before a gathering of faculty, staff, PDP apprentices and special guests.
“The PDP is giving me the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Old Dominion University while gaining valuable work experience at the shipyard. The Apprentice School prepared me for this through a unique combination of technical training and education that will continue to create opportunities as I advance my career.”
– Brandon Weiler Professional Development Program and Marine Engineer Apprentice
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Professional Development Program CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR ROTATION One of the greatest benefits of the Professional Development Program is the broad but focused work experience marine engineer apprentices receive. While working for USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Superintendent Gray Milteer during a four-month construction management rotation, Professional Development Program and Marine Engineer Apprentice Jarrod Griffith (pictured) experienced the overhaul requirements of a variety of ship systems and equipment from a construction supervisor’s perspective. PDP rotations provide marine engineer apprentices with a practical understanding of the functional relationships across the shipyard and a strong foundation for a successful engineering career.
CVN 72 WARRIOR OF THE WEEK Professional Development Program and Marine Engineer Apprentice Angel DeGuzman (center) was honored as the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Warrior of the Week. A certificate, plaque and commanding officer’s coin were presented to DeGuzman by Capt. Randall Peck, CVN 72 executive officer, and Program Director Bruce Easterson (right) for successfully facilitating agenda progress meetings and providing outstanding contributions to service order request management and compartment completion.
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Leadership
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Twenty-three Advanced Shipbuilding Operations Curriculum apprentices attended The Apprentice School Leadership Experience at the College of William & Mary. Beginning May 5, William & Mary business and history professors led apprentices in a series of activities and exercises to enhance their leadership skills. Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters (first row, second from right) and Newport News Shipbuilding Superintendent Jerome Thomas were among shipbuilding leaders who shared their leadership experiences with the group. The weeklong experience culminated in a brief to Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President, Operations, Danny Hunley (first row, far left) and Director, Program Production, Joe Dvorak.
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VERG VOLUNTEER Marine Designer and Professional Development Program Craft Instructor Rick Burgos, who is the director of community involvement for Newport News Shipbuilding’s Veterans Employee Resource Group, coordinated VERG’s efforts to build a raised garden bed at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The raised garden bed, constructed by shipbuilders with materials provided by the Red Cross, allows wheelchair users to fully participate in the medical center’s gardening program.
AASA PRESIDENT Sheet Metal Worker Craft Instructor Nishon Carter was elected president of the African-American Shipbuilders Association, one of five Employee Resource Groups at Newport News Shipbuilding. The AASA is committed to promoting cultural awareness and diversity and fostering the career and professional development of AfricanAmerican shipbuilders. During his four-year tenure with the group, Carter has served in a variety of roles, including chair of the Community Outreach Committee and member, secretary and treasurer of the Board of Directors.
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“When I came here, I was excited to be learning something new. The school prepares individuals to be successful. It is designed to build leaders. I gained so much knowledge from my craft rotations, and it all came together to make a five-month construction supervisor rotation my most memorable experience of all. The Apprentice School has prepared me for anything.”
– Laneisha Jenkins Refueler (Class of 2014)
VETERAN’S DAY GOLF CLASSIC On Nov. 9, The Apprentice School Student Association hosted the 3rd Annual Veteran’s Day Golf Classic in Smithfield, Virginia. More than 140 golfers participated in the tournament at Cypress Creek Golf Club, and $5,550 in proceeds from the event were donated to Aid Our Veterans, a Maryland-based non-profit organization that provides assistance to homeless and unemployed military veterans. Charlene Barrington, ASSA president, and Dawn Hardister, ASSA immediate past vice president (left to right), coordinated the event, and ASSA delegates provided support.
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PENINSULA HEART WALK Electrician Apprentices Glenn Skinner Jr., Aleshia Jackson and Chelsee Mooring, Heavy Metal Fabricator Joshua Stachura (left to right) and Molder Apprentice Sara Neuberger were among the many shipyard and community volunteers who convened at Peninsula Town Center, located in Hampton, Virginia, to support the Peninsula Heart Walk. Representing The Apprentice School Student Association, apprentice volunteers served popcorn, tie-dyed shirts and demonstrated CPR. Proceeds from the Oct. 18 event benefit the American Heart Association.
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BOY SCOUT WELDING MERIT BADGE Welder Apprentice Robb Borowicz (right) and Shipfitter Apprentice Anthony Stewart (not pictured) traveled to Driver, Virginia, to help Boy Scouts complete the requirements to earn their welding merit badge. Borowicz and Stewart, both Eagle Scouts, eagerly combined their shipbuilding and scouting experience to teach members of Boy Scout Troop 16 about various welding processes and how to weld different types of weld joints. Fourteen Boy Scouts, ages 12 to 18, participated in the daylong event.
“The best part of working at The Apprentice School is building relationships with the studentathletes and watching as they achieve their goals within the company. Seeing those who have recently completed their apprenticeship be promoted and quickly move into important management roles is very rewarding.” – Jeff Egnot Assistant Athletic Director
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MODELS OF EXCELLENCE 2014 was a banner year for The Apprentice School and Model of Excellence awards, Newport News Shipbuilding’s highest honor. Six shipbuilders affiliated with The Apprentice School received MOE awards for leadership and operational excellence. Manager, Admissions and Student Services, Dan Brookman; recent graduate Production Planner Nathan McInnis; Non-destructive Test Inspector Apprentice Nathan Kramer; recent graduates Shipfitters Ryan Sparks and John Thompson; and recent graduate Foreman, Structual Fabrication & Assembly, Jeffrey Gravely (left to right) were among 123 MOE award recipients honored during a Sept. 18 ceremony.
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“I wanted to become an apprentice simply because of the opportunity. The Apprentice School is an amazing place where I can get an education and begin a career. My apprenticeship is preparing me for future opportunities by allowing me to work for good leaders—leaders who sometimes see things in me that I don’t see in myself. They are guiding me in the right direction.”
– Bria Hill Coatings Specialist Apprentice and Women’s Basketball Player
TRADES ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL ROTATION During a special rotation in Sheet Metal Trades Administration, Sheet Metal Worker Apprentice Michael Wilson completed training in Newport News Shipbuilding’s Opportunity for Improvement database, which catalogs shipbuilders’ suggestions for improvement, and began clearing the backlog of OFIs that had remained unresolved during the past few years. Within eight weeks, Wilson resolved 144 of 172 delinquent OFIs. He received an Employee Recognition Program award for his contributions to the continuous improvement of the Sheet Metal department.
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FRONTLINE FAST PROMOTIONS Coatings Specialist Craft Instructor Matt Gular, pictured with Coatings Specialist Apprentice Christopher Brimley, and Maintenance Electrician Craft Instructor Brittanie Herriott were the first Frontline FAST (Foreman Accelerated Skills Training) participants to be promoted to supervisor positions after completing the program. Gular and Herriott are members of the Class of 2014, completed the Advanced Shipyard Operations Curriculum and were members of the inaugural Frontline FAST cohort.
NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY The Apprentice School joined the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and was designated a showcase program, representing best in practice apprenticeship programs in the United States. In collaboration with Newport News Shipbuilding’s Career Pathways, Manufacturing, Trades Training and Talent Acquisition, the school supported AME’s National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 3. Shipbuilders, including Product Trainer Kimberly Jarvis (left), gave shipyard tours to local guidance counselors and shared information about manufacturing careers during the event.
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2014 BASEBALL The baseball team finished the year with a 28-14 record and took third place in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series in Illinois. The 28 wins marked the sixth straight year that the Builders finished a season with at least 25 wins. Eight Builders were named to the USCAA All-Academic team, and four more were named to the USCAA All-American teams.
2014 FOOTBALL Under first-year Head Coach Paul White (center), the football team improved offense to set several new standards in 2014. The team ran for the most yards in 10 years, threw for the third most yards in school history and had the fifth best completion percentage in school history. Ten players earned All-United States Collegiate Athletic Association honors.
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2013-14 MEN’S BASKETBALL Led by Head Coach Franklin Chatman (center, seated), the men’s basketball team finished the year with a 1610 record and advanced to the semifinals of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division I National Championships. En route to a third straight bid to the national tournament, the team scored wins over the defending USCAA Champion Rochester College and eventual USCAA Champion Washington Adventist University.
2013-14 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The women’s basketball team finished with a 22-5 record and advanced to the semifinals of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division I National Championships. The team, including Electrician Courtney Collins (center), enjoyed a 12game winning streak during the year and made national highlights with a half-court bank shot to win a road game and earn the second spot on ESPN’s Top 10 Plays on Feb. 2. Electrician Apprentice Kenya Wilkerson was named to the USCAA Honorable Mention All-American team, and recent graduate Maintenance Electrician Craft Instructor Brittanie Herriott was named to the USCAA All-Academic team.
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2013-14 GOLF The golf team participated in the prestigious Camp LeJeune Intercollegiate Golf Tournament for the first time in school history and finished sixth in the Scarlet Division. The Builders ended the year by capturing the Glenn Heath Shipbuilders Memorial Tournament for the first time ever. Recent graduate Rigger Ben Hunter (second from right), pictured with Athletic Director Keisha Pexton, Head Coach Joey Maben (left to right) and Assistant Coach BJ Maben (far right), earned the medalist honor, marking the first time a Builder golfer received the award. Hunter also finished his career as a two-time USCAA National Champion, earning the recognition as a freshman and a senior.
2013-14 WRESTLING The wrestling team finished the year with a 19-8 record and an eighth place showing at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships in Texas. Heavy Metal Fabricator Apprentice Ian Jones (background) earned his third NCWA All-American honor and finished fourth in the heavyweight division at nationals. Jones and Head Coach Bruce Shumaker each earned their 100th wins in the same dual match as the Builders defeated East Tennessee State University in late January.
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“The Frontline FAST program is an opportunity that offers special work rotations such as the chance to serve as a make-up foreman. This experience is helping to prepare me to one day make a smoother transition into a supervisory role. The Apprentice School has shown me that anything is possible if you put your heart and mind to it.”
– Kevin Byrum Shipfitter Apprentice and Frontline FAST Participant
CHEER TEAM AND DRUMLINE The cheer team and drumline were frequent participants in company and athletic events in 2014. They performed halftime shows at home football and basketball games and represented The Apprentice School in local parades during the holidays.
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Building Careers, Shaping Futures TED STEWART, SHEET METAL DIRECTOR, TRADES ADMINISTRATION (CLASS OF 1973) Much has changed at Newport News Shipbuilding since Master Shipbuilder and Director, Trades Administration, Ted Stewart began his apprenticeship in 1969. As an 18-year-old painter apprentice, Stewart received the toughest, dirtiest jobs that no one wanted to perform, but he persevered and became the first African-American to complete a painter apprenticeship. This resolve to persevere would set the course for Stewart’s nearly 46-year shipbuilding career. He quickly advanced through the ranks, progressing from foreman to construction superintendent to director. However, Stewart says his capstone job was as construction director for the Refueling and Complex Overhaul of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). This position marked another important “first” in Stewart’s career and the history of the shipyard. He was the first African-American to oversee the overhaul of an aircraft carrier, with the exception of nuclear work, from the late stages of planning through the execution of the ship’s overhaul. Stewart credits his success as a construction director to the trust the company placed in him, the support of shipyard leadership and the commitment and support of his family during the five-year project. “As you progress in responsibility, you have others who are a huge part of your success because of their efforts,” says Stewart. Throughout his career, Stewart has created opportunities for others, and he views this as one of the most satisfying aspects of his shipyard tenure. He believes, “If we do not share, help, guide, mentor, we are not doing our Apprentice School alumni their due service.” Even as Stewart nears retirement, he continues to mentor fellow shipbuilders and reflects, “It has been a great run for me.”
Dec. 1 shoot
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Building Careers,, Shaping Futures
BERNADETTE REID, IN-SERVICE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS PROGRAM MANAGER (CLASS OF 1987) Bernadette Reid began her commitment to helping shipbuilders realize and achieve their potential as a sheet metal apprentice working at the deck plate level and credits the support and dedication of The Apprentice School faculty and staff for fostering her ambition to become a leader. As an apprentice, Reid “felt compelled to know more and to understand how decisions that affected the waterfront were derived.” This perspective helps Reid make effective decisions as a leader and also informs her approach to shipbuilders and their development. Her passion for employee development has only grown during her 30-year shipbuilding career. From sheet metal apprentice to production planner to program manager, Reid’s career path is diverse, and she draws on this experience when discussing career paths with mentees and immediate staff members and looks for opportunities to assist in their personal career goals. “Getting to know people and allowing people to know you creates a trusting relationship that can benefit both parties.” Mentoring is an important part of Reid’s work, and she brings her passion for development to the shipyard’s leadership development programs. “Facilitating Emerging Leader Program and Enhancing Personal Leadership sessions has been a very rewarding chance for me to give back to the rising leaders of the company and an opportunity to share lessons learned from my own personal experience.” Reid urges all shipbuilders to actively seek ways to grow. “It is important to show peers and management that you have the initiative to advance in leadership positions by taking responsibility for your work, maintaining a high level of responsibility and accountability and showing respect for yourself and others.”
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Building Careers, Shaping Futures
DANNY HUNLEY, NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS (CLASS OF 1977) When Master Shipbuilder and Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President, Operations, Danny Hunley began his shipbuilding career as a welder trainee in 1974, he had no idea he would retire from the company as a vice president, a position to which he was promoted in 2005. Of his success Hunley says, “I kept doing what I was asked to do, and this is where I ended up.” In fact, Hunley succinctly describes his career path as “production and people.” Many of Hunley’s reflections about his 40-year tenure as a shipbuilder have one thing in common: people. About halfway through his career, Hunley says he learned his “real passion was in helping people realize their potential.” He believes in placing people first in business and enjoys creating opportunities and seeing who seizes them. The typical history of the shipbuilding industry is captured in terms of vessels built, rather than the people who made it possible. The “basis of this business is people,” says Hunley, “and shipbuilding is a side effect of leaders who inspire and motivate people.” Hunley firmly believes that to be a first-class shipbuilder, one must be a first-class person, first-class in everything, and he encourages all shipbuilders, including apprentices, to embody this notion. This perspective was nurtured in Hunley from his days as a welder apprentice to his time as vice president, Operations. A proud alumnus of The Apprentice School, Hunley advises current apprentices and recent alumni—the next generation of shipbuilding leaders—to never quit, be mindful that it is more important who knows you than who you know and remember that there is no job more important than the one you have now.
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Building Careers,, Shaping Futures GREG BONE, NUCLEAR SHIFT TEST ENGINEER (CLASS OF 2010) When Nuclear Shift Test Engineer Greg Bone began his apprenticeship as an inside machinist in March 2005, he had a strong desire to prove himself. This drive led Bone to be selected for the nuclear test technician apprenticeship and to complete his apprenticeship as a mechanical test engineer in February 2010. As an inside machinist, Bone learned to respect the dozens of people involved in creating a finished part from a raw piece of metal. “Despite the work stations the part went through for various machining operations, riggers, planners, design engineers and material transport folks were also involved in that component from its creation to installation on the ship. I am just one piece of a much larger whole.” As a nuclear shift test engineer, Bone actively applies leadership lessons learned during his apprenticeship. “I try to ensure test engineers fully understand the reasons and underlying principles of what they do to make more informed decisions or recognize when something isn’t going the way it should.” One of Bone’s most memorable experiences from his apprenticeship is leading The Apprentice School drumline for its first five years. “While trying to establish the organization, many folks committed themselves to helping the drumline be successful.” Apprentices should become involved in extracurricular activities to “build the types of professional relationships that help you and allow you to help others throughout your entire shipbuilding career,” says Bone. Apprentices must put forth the maximum amount of effort in the classroom and on the waterfront to make the most of their apprenticeship. Bone affirms the plethora of opportunities available at The Apprentice School, “but success won’t be handed to you. It must be earned.”
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