In This Issue Building Virginia-Class Modules Storm Team’s Powerful Performance
Yardlines
Photo by Chris Oxley
Susan Ford Bales Visits CVN 78
LOOK INSIDE FOR THE 2012 NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING CALENDAR A Publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
November/December 2011
Ship’s Sponsor Views CVN 78
Progress On Oct. 11, Susan Ford Bales, daughter of the late President Gerald R. Ford and sponsor of his namesake ship, visited Newport News Shipbuilding. Bales received an update on Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) construction progress since her last visit in August 2010. Following the briefing, Bales toured the ship named for her father with shipyard leadership, ascended the 1,050-ton crane to get a bird’s-eye view of the shipyard, and had lunch with CVN 78 shipbuilders. Dear Shipbuilders: As the year comes to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for a successful 2011. This was a special year for us, marking our 125th anniversary as well as again becoming an independent company and taking back our legacy Newport News Shipbuilding name. It was also an eventful year for our shipbuilding programs, and included in this issue of Yardlines is a 2012 calendar that highlights in photographs many of our accomplishments. As Newport News Shipbuilders, it’s up to each of us to continue our tradition of “Always Good Ships,” and this means meeting our commitments of safety, quality, cost and schedule. As you read the articles in this and future issues of Yardlines, and as you use your calendar next year, I hope you will be proud of the work we’re doing today to continue our 125-year tradition of building the best and highest-quality ships in the world. I appreciate the contributions each and every one of you make as we work together to build upon our distinguished past and create an even brighter future. Sincerely,
Matt Mulherin President, Newport News Shipbuilding
“It has been more than a year since my last visit and the ship has changed immensely,” Bales said. “Every day it becomes a more important part of my family, especially with the loss of my mother. It’s one more way to continue my father’s legacy so that people will understand who he was and what he was about.”
Bales helped erect and position a section of the aircraft carrier’s main deck, connect instrumentation wiring and operate watertight doors. She also observed mechanized welding operations.
“When she talked to us she showed great concern about what we were doing and she asked questions. It was really delightful to see that she was so interested in the ship’s progress.”
“I appreciate all the work that has been done by the shipbuilders,” Bales said. “My brothers and friends ask me about the ship and I feel I need to know as much as I can. Part of visiting, touching, seeing and feeling it is so I can learn and talk about the ship. The progress is phenomenal.”
Another attendee at the lunch, CVN 78 Painter Lindell Toombs, said he was “impressed with Bales wanting to be part of the CVN 78 team.” He added, “It’s important for the ship’s sponsor to see the progress we are making on the ship so she will see that the taxpayers and the government are getting a quality product and that our workmanship is second to none.”
Master Shipbuilder and Welder Samuel Stanley attended the lunch with Bales and thought she was great.
Gerald R. Ford Ship’s Sponsor Susan Ford Bales views construction of the aircraft carrier named for her father from the top of the 1050–ton gantry crane with CVN 78 Construction Director Geoff Hummel. Photo by Chris Oxley.
There’s a certain rhythm that develops when you build the same thing over and over again. And the craftsmen who are assembling Virginia-class submarine (VCS) modules in the three-acre Covered Modular Assembly Facility (CMAF) never miss a beat. This group of 250 or so craftsmen has been building the same sails, auxiliary machinery rooms (AMR) and habitability modules for every submarine in the class. “As soon as we finish a module for one boat, we roll to
the next one,” said Pipefitter Martha Willis. “We’ve been able to really develop this repetitive skill.” That repetition has allowed the team to climb the learning curve quickly while continually finding ways to produce each module a little better and faster than the last one. As a result, they’ve shaved months off the schedule for each module. “It used to take us 10 months to outfit an AMR. Now we do it in seven months and have added hundreds of
hours of testing and inspection that originally were not in the module-level work scope,” said VCS Construction Director Jay Rowe. That success has allowed the team to take on additional work without impacting the schedule and provide downstream customers with a product that’s as close to 100 percent complete as it can get. Rowe said, “Experience is the key.” The same key group of craftspeople has worked on each module and has extensively documented its work and lessons learned. The group is applying that knowledge going forward. And, their work area has become a real life classroom for the apprentices who rotate in and out. “We’ve watched our craftspeople come up with great ideas and work with other departments to solve
problems,” Rowe explained. “They are proving ship by ship that if we give them what they need, they will provide high quality, schedule attainment, and high levels of customer satisfaction. That’s just what the CMAF team does every day.” Machine Installer Wayne Horrell agrees, “Our team has earned the reputation for delivering at 99.7 percent complete and we are constantly fighting for the threetenths of one percent. We’re pretty proud of what we do every day. We are Newport News Shipbuilders.”
Craftsmen building a sail for the Virginia-class submarine (VCS) Mississippi use knowledge from repeatedly building VCS modules to improve schedules, quality and customer satisfaction. Photo by John Whalen.
Hurricane Irene may not have lived up to its initial forecast as the “storm of the century,” but it still packed a punch. With the hurricane season over, the late August storm will soon be forgotten and it’s the work of nearly 400 shipbuilders who helped prepare, monitor and clean up after her that will be remembered. “The teams of shipbuilders that worked before, during and after the storm are unsung heroes of the shipyard,” said Joe Dvorak, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) director & deputy of Operations. “Facilities & Waterfront Support (FWS) and all the other teams that had a hand in this work did an outstanding job.” A week before local news outlets began reporting on Irene, the tropical storm was being closely tracked by a handful of FWS employees in Building 66’s Storm Center. These shipbuilders regularly keep an eye on the weather to ensure NNS is prepared for any weather conditions that could affect shipyard operations. By the time Irene strengthened to become the first major hurricane of the season for NNS, teams of shipbuilders from FWS, Programs, Security, IT, and many others were 72 hours into executing the shipyard’s storm preparedness plan. “Prepping for the storm was a massive effort,” said Timothy Emerson, a ventilation specialist. “Each team had separate checklists of things to do. We started almost a week ahead of time and it was a lot of hard work.” Shipyard preparations included tying down storm mooring lines, placing barges and tugs in the dry docks, lining building entrances with sand bags, securing cranes, removing gangways and putting away loose construction materials and tools. “Anything that could become windborne or damaged, we had to put away or tie down,” said Alphonso Lovelace and Andrew Meekins, members of the Dry Dock Operations team. Pier 3 shipbuilders James Shepherd, Melvin Dillard, Henry Peele and Wesley Lane said they were pulled in a lot of different directions. They also tied mooring lines to secure USS Theodore Roosevelt, which is undergoing a complex overhaul and refueling at the shipyard, and assisted the Navy. During the storm, almost 200 shipbuilders stayed behind the gates to monitor the shipyard and jump into action if and when they were needed.
Though not carrying the force it was predicted to have, the combination of its slow movement, the change of wind from northeast to northwest as well as a high tide and a full moon made Irene “a little more challenging and unpredictable than past hurricanes,” Dvorak explained. “The wind was pushing a lot of water from the river into the shipyard,” Lovelace said. “We saw spray from the river as high as 15 feet coming across a two-story building. I had never seen anything like this.”
Even before Irene’s tail winds died down, shipyard crews began picking up wood, rocks and other debris that had been blown and deposited into the shipyard. Wet vacs were used to remove water from roads and trailer loads of sand bags were stored away. In less than eight hours, the riggers and maintenance crews untied hundreds of cranes and put back equipment, structures and floatables that were safely stored prior to the storm. “We were fortunate the shipyard never lost power and
it sustained very minor damage,” said Rich Kutchen, one of the engineers responsible for inspecting and assessing the storm damage. “Because of all the work the teams put in, you could barely tell that Irene was here at all.” Facilities & Waterfront Support Services teammates (L to R) Greenie Greenhow, Andrew Meekins, and Alphonso Lovelace were among the more than 400 shipbuilders who helped prepare the shipyard before Hurricane Irene. Photo by Ricky Thompson
Alfred Flythe, the winner of the Newport News Shipbuilding Safety Song Contest, has been writing music for nine years. After a committee selected four of the nearly 30 song entries for voting, shipbuilders decided that his song, “Safety First,” was the best. Flythe, a shipfitter in the Covered Modular Assembly Facility, has worked at the shipyard for two years. He began writing “Safety First” in September as soon as he learned about the contest. The hip-hop style song includes important themes of the shipyard’s ongoing commitment to safety. On writing the lyrics, Flythe explains, “I considered all of the different environments in the yard. One minute we’re outside working and then we’re indoors. Knowing all of the different safety factors that come into play is important.” “You gotta recognize, evaluate, control the situation Cause that’s the best way to keep the clinic rooms vacant No matter if you’re welding, pipefitting or painting Safety is the most important part of our occupation”
Excerpt from “Safety First”
“Through the lyrics of his song, Flythe clearly demonstrates that he understands the importance of safety,” said Flythe’s Supervisor Jim Rentz. “Our entire team is proud of the song he wrote to reinforce the importance of safety and to help keep our shipbuilders safe every day on the job.” Flythe has been inspired by rap icons such as Eminem, Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne and Drake. While Flythe’s dream of becoming a rapper is very much alive, he admits that finding time for his music is a challenge. “Because of work, I really don’t have time to pursue it as much as I would like, but when I get a chance like this I take advantage of it,” he said. The music video for “Safety First” can be viewed on the Huntington Ingalls YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ huntingtoningalls. Shipfitter Alfred Flythe, winner of the shipyard’s Safety Song Contest, received $1,000 for penning “Safety First.” The lyrics to Flythe’s song underscore Newport News Shipbuilding’s commitment to safety. Photo by John Whalen
Classic
The Making of a
On Veterans Day, millions of viewers watched ESPN’s live coverage of the first Quicken Loans Carrier Classic men’s basketball game. And while the game was played on the flat top of the Newport News Shipbuilding-built USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the pride for shipbuilders didn’t end there. When Tar Heels forward Tyler Zeller and guard Justin Watts raised the 86-pound trophy, a few shipbuilders in particular shared a proud moment with the University of North Carolina.
The Carrier Classic trophy was conceived, designed and created by a group of Newport News shipbuilders that led the unique project to build it. The shipbuilders included Graphic Designer LaMar Smith, Photographer Ricky Thompson, Engineering Designer Paul Evans, Pattern Shop Supervisors Lance Pruitt and Tom Brown, as well as other craftsmen from the Pattern Shop and Foundry.
Typically, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) pattern makers work behind the scenes. They carve wood and create patterns for molds that eventually manufacture elements of a ship. “Since NNS was one of the key sponsors of the event, it made sense for our shipbuilders to design and build a trophy for this event that replicated the work they achieve on a regular basis,” Pruitt said. “I think we let everybody in the shop have a part in the project, so that everybody could sit and watch the game and say they worked on it.” The special trophy required distinctive materials so the shipbuilders decided to cast it out of pewter, a metal that had not been touched in the shipyard since the 1980s. The Foundry most often works with brass, steel and
other common metals. Research was required to achieve the proper recipe for the right levels of pewter. The decision to use pewter also presented a heavier challenge. “We were hoping to keep the trophy well under 100 pounds, but pewter is really heavy. We were doing everything we could to try and lighten it as much as possible, but it was really challenging,” Brown said. New ideas were continuously circulated and tested among the shipbuilders before starting the final product. The color for the base of the trophy was achieved by mixing multiple colors of spray paint and wood finishing stains. “It’s kind of an unusual color, but is really hard to duplicate because you don’t usually mix spray paints and stains with the result of being able to see the wood grains,” explained Pattern Maker George LaFrance.
Upon finishing the trophy, there was a great sense of pride from the shipbuilders who played a part in the design and completion of the finished product. But the pride felt as a result of the shop-wide project was not about the work they had accomplished. Instead, it was for the contribution to the service members who have made sacrifices in past and current wars. “Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we’re here to help our military carry on and defend our freedom,” said Pattern Maker Jeffery Tucker. “This is a small part of that, but it’s good recognition for what we do in the shipyard. It gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside.” Pattern Maker Kenny Hill puts the finishing touches on the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic trophy. Photo by Ricky Thompson
At Center Court Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) President Matt Mulherin is at center court for the presentation of the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic trophy to the winning University of North Carolina Tar Heels team. Sharing the spotlight, on Mulherin’s right, are shipbuilders (L-R) LaMar Smith, Lance Pruitt and Paul Evans, who helped design and build the trophy. The first-of-its-kind basketball game was held on the flight deck of the NNS-built USS Carl Vinson to honor U.S. military veterans.
Photo by Ricky Thompson
Welding
Pipeline
Working with Thomas Nelson and other community colleges, technical schools and workforce centers in Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina has helped NNS increase the numbers of welders being trained in one of the shipyard’s oldest trades. “The training materials we donate to schools and colleges have helped improve the pipeline of trained welders in the region,” said Larry Baranowski, manager, production and maintenance training. Each year, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) welds thousands of steel components together to build nuclear-powered ships for the Navy, creating a steady demand for highly-skilled welders. In the last three years, NNS has trained more than 1,000 welders at its Welding School located in the north yard to help meet the demand. “The training here is really top of the line, everything that is done is of the highest quality,” said Mason Karafa, a student in the NNS welding program. “There are no cutting corners. If you do, it’s not going to help you or the shipyard in the long run. When you’re building aircraft carriers and submarines, there’s no room for mistakes.” Trainees at the NNS Welding School learn the art of fusing steel at high temperatures through a combination of hands-on and computer-based training. To increase the number of students being trained, NNS has adapted its high-tech welding curriculum to create a 10-disk, 12-week comprehensive program for students. Donations of the welding program and equipment are making it possible for students in three states to gain experience and jumpstart their careers.
If we can decrease the trainees’ time in the Welding School by providing training prior to being hired, we save money. By being exposed to welding techniques and the welding environment prior to being hired, future employees are much more likely to succeed on the job.” NNS employee Terry La Point helped coordinate a recent donation of the Welding School program to four colleges located near the Savannah River Nuclear site – a facility NNS manages and operates with partners of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (SRNS). La Point said, “There is a growing demand for welders in the nuclear industry.” SRNS executive vice president Fred Dohse said, “Newport News Shipbuilding is acknowledged as a world leader in training welders for the shipbuilding and repair industry. We are pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of this generous effort that will create or significantly improve the welding classes offered to interested students throughout the region.” Karafa sums up the pride and value of the training he is receiving. “I’m not only training to be a welder, but to be one of the best welders in the world,” he said.
the
Nuclear Age
This is the final article in the series commemorating Newport News Shipbuilding’s (NNS) 125th anniversary. In the fall of 1960, Newport News Shipbuilding launched Enterprise (CVN 65), the Navy fleet’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It would sail around the world in just 64 days and would travel more than 200,000 miles before needing its first refueling – and 300,000 more before needing another. The advent of nuclear power forever changed the future of the shipyard and its shipbuilders.
It was a decade before “Big E” came to life that employees started studying the atom. Soon after, the shipyard would establish an atomic power design department. And with the shipyard’s first contracts for nuclear-powered vessels, like Enterprise, the Skipjack-class submarine Shark and the boomer submarine Robert E. Lee, hundreds of shipbuilders would move into nuclear-power related jobs and into departments dedicated to its development. Employees would take classes in reactor theory. Shipways would be lengthened, buildings erected and crane facilities upgraded. New safety departments would spring to life and a whole new nuclear world would be born at NNS.
Today, the yard has built entire classes of ships fueled by the atom. From the Nimitz-class carriers to the new Gerald R. Ford class of ships, from early fleet ballistic missile submarines to the new Virginia class, the future of the shipyard, the future careers of shipbuilders and the future of the U.S. Navy is integrally connected to nuclear power. With Enterprise, thousands of employees have had a hand in the ship’s construction, its overhauls and its refuelings over the past half century since the ship was launched. In fact, many of the shipyard’s Master Shipbuilders, who have 40 or more years of continuous service, have spent
their careers in parallel with the aircraft carrier’s career. In the years following World War II, when the strength of the atom was first being realized, employees couldn’t have predicted the impact nuclear power would have on NNS. And it’s likely that shipbuilders are working on new technology today that will re-shape the yard’s future for the next 50 years to come.
USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is moved pier side for outfitting in 1960. The ship is celebrating its 50th year in service. Photo from Newport News Shipbuilding Achives.
As a child, Britta Brown Zambrana always had a special passion for math and science. That passion turned into a reality when she was selected to attend a high school summer program at NASA aimed at increasing the number of women and minorities in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. That opportunity opened many doors for Zambrana, including full scholarships to both Spelman College and Georgia Tech to pursue degrees in math and engineering.
Technology
After graduation, Zambrana returned to Virginia to begin her career at Newport News Shipbuilding as an engineer and has continued to hold various positions of increasing responsibility. Currently, she is an audit supervisor for the Nuclear Engineering division.
All-Star
Pursues Her Passion
In early November, Zambrana was recognized at the 2011 Women of Color STEM Awards Conference in Dallas. The conference honored outstanding women from across the U.S. in STEM fields. She received the Technology All-Star award for demonstrating excellence in the workplace and community. “Winning this award has been a great honor and privilege,” Zambrana said. “To be nominated for this type of recognition from my senior management team is a humbling experience. I am extremely appreciative and grateful for the opportunity.”
Diversity is a crucial element of a team. The key to success is understanding and accepting the differences of each team member, and then using them to enhance the way a team analyzes situations and makes decisions. I appreciate every experience and mentoring moment that every leader in this company has provided me,” Zambrana said. “As I continue to grow and mature in the shipbuilding industry, I will apply the lessons I have learned and continue to build relationships, so that I can always be part of the team that builds great ships.”
Zambrana plans to continue her education and her mentoring relationships with youth interested in STEM. “It is important that women of color are involved in STEM.
Britta Brown Zambrana received a Technology AllStar Award on Nov. 4 at the 2011 Women of Color STEM Awards Conference for demonstrating excellence in the workplace and community. Photo by Chris Oxley
Long Service MASTER SHIPBUILDERS
october
Samuel Burton 45 years
Frank Carroll Jr. 40 years
Elton Cook 40 years
Jerry Costello 45 years
Dorothy Eaton 40 years
Eldridge Firth 40 years
Steve Groce 40 years
Roy Hoffman Jr. 50 years
Jerry Howell 40 years
Jim Lynskey II 40 years
Jon Martin 40 years
Tom Modlin 40 years
Jimmy Norris 45 years
Linwood Outlaw 45 years
Eddie Owens 40 years
Ralph Roberts 40 years
Robert South III 45 years
Walter Spencer Jr. 40 years
Shirl Thomas 40 years
Tom Thomas 40 years
Rufus Turner 40 years
Michael Voglewede 40 years
Roy Walton 40 years
Willie White Jr. 40 years
Everett Wilkerson 40 years
Alexander Williams 40 years
Robert Willis 45 years
Bobby Womack 40 years
James Worthington 45 years
Long Service MASTER SHIPBUILDERS
november
Leon Bailey 40 years
Junie Bell 40 years
Larry Bridgman 45 years
Benjamin Brokenburr 40 years
Marvin Cabe 40 years
Thomas Callaghan 40 years
Walter Davis 40 years
Theodore Daye 40 years
Harry Fisher III 40 years
Steve Hall 40 years
Edward Hammond 40 years
Ralph Hunt 40 years
Vincent Jones 40 years
Kenny Kilmon 40 years
Ronald Liles 40 years
Frank Morrow 40 years
Clarence Raynor 40 years
Michael Roberts 40 years
Larry Simmons 40 years
Willie Spencer 40 years
Ernest Stubbs 40 years
Harvey Tomlin 40 years
Ethelria Townes 40 years
Lyle Ward 45 years
Larry Wood 40 years
Yardlines is published 10 times a year for the employees of Newport News Shipbuilding. This issue of Yardlines was produced by: Jeremy Bustin, Gina Chew-Holman, Mike Dillard, Christie Miller, Eugene Phillips, LaMar Smith, Susan Sumner and Lauren Ward. Additional writing services by Barlow Communications. Photographs by: Chris Oxley, Ricky Thompson and John Whalen Send comments, questions and story ideas to Yardlines editor: gina.chewholman@hii-nns.com or call 757路380路2627. Look for more news at huntingtoningalls.com/nns. HIIndustries
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Huntington Ingalls
Long Service october 50 Years Roy E. Hoffman Jr. E25 45 Years Samuel C. Burton X42 Jerry L. Costello X87 Robert L. Fish X67 James R. Norris X87 Linwood G. Outlaw A572 Robert R. South III X88 Robert L. Willis E45 James L. Worthington X36 40 Years Frank Carroll Jr. X18 Elton I. Cook X42 Dorothy J. Eaton O55 Eldridge P. Firth O58 Norwood S. Groce X87 Alvin W. Hamlin X33 Larry R. Harrell X11
Jerry T. Howell M53 James E. Lynskey II O43 Jon L. Martin E65 Thomas E. Modlin O31 Jerome Moody X42 Eddie G. Owens X11 Ralph E. Roberts X70 Walter R. Spencer Jr. O43 Heber E. Sullivan X88 Shirl T. Thomas O51 Thomas G. Thomas X70 Rufus D. Turner X71 Michael E. Voglewede O38 Roy L. Walton O38 Willie B. White Jr. M53 Everett M. Wilkerson X43 Alexander Williams X18 Bobby L. Womack X11 35 Years Charles Q. Armstrong X36
Robert L. Artis X33 Gerald M. Barnes X18 George H. Blizzard X33 James R. Blotter X36 David W. Byrum O40 Howard C. Cary Jr. X33 Samuel W. Cherry Jr. X36 Gary V. Coakley O51 Vincenzo J. Coppa X10 Sherman Evans O43 Raymond L. Faulk X36 Forrest D. Flythe O09 Charles Futrell X11 Mark E. Hageman O43 Ronald L. Hall X36 Marvin A. Johnson X33 Tyrone Jones X18 Quinton L. Jordan X76 Daniel P. LaCross X31 Merelyn M. Lee X36 David E. Long X36
George W. Love X43 Gene E. Magruder X33 Donald A. McCann M30 David H. McCarthy X82 Emmett L. Mitchell X36 Mark K. Morin E89 Karen M. Powell X67 David E. Robinson X42 Judy C. Simmons X33 Frederick D. Sparks X33 James K. Stewart X42 Ronald O. Summers X18 Bradley M. Thomas X74 David G. Tilman O22 Kevin P. Turpin X42 Richard L. Walther II X18 Kerry M. Welch X36 Janice K. Wyatte O53
John F. Cheevers E51 Dean M. Clayton M53 Charlene T. Cooke X32 Thomas G. Daniel O57 Michael L. England O43 Mark D. Garrett X32 Michael G. Goeller E07 Harry R. Hogan Jr. O63 Joseph W. Maben X70 Andrew J. Moore X18 Leonard W. Morris X88 Kenneth L. Pearson O45 Jay L. Ridout X82 Royal M. Rogers X88 Michael C. Routten X32 Marvin O. Sides O39 William P. Sims X87 Melvin L. Smith X33
Alan L. Strickland X32 Roy L. Turner X32 Mark B. Tyo X36 Kevin M. Wells X32 Barry C. White X32 Evelyn J. Williams X36
30 Years James R. Absher E26
Connie K. Barlow O26 Dennis K. Byrum X42 Stephen R. Cottrell E82 Reginald A. Council E12 Raymond L. Crawford E85 Karen M. Dabney E07 Brian A. Dyson E56 Albert N. Firth Jr. X32 James E. Flaim O36 John R. Gambill Jr. E22 Robert J. Goforth K07 Lionel S. Hughes E25 Michael R. Johnson O98 Kevin P. Lamb O57 Charles R. Lyon E62 Nancy L. Mazzanti O53 Timothy E. McCaw O67 Vera L. McCracken O53 John H. McCroskey E84 Hubert B. Montague Jr. X43 Donald C. Parker E73
Landon R. Pierce N960 Mark B. Prater X72 William G. Sale A572 James P. Sarvis E84 Patrick E. Scarlett E38 Sheila White E85 William L. White E85 James E. White Jr. E64 Kathleen S. Wilkins T51
James R. Crocker X87 Jack W. Darden O68 David E. Dentel O74 George E. Dick E81 Hercules Etheridge Jr. X71 Duane T. Faircloth X71 Terry L. Ford E62 Troy E. Gross X75 Steve Jakubiak E84 Deborah H. Jordan X82 Mary L. Joyner O67 Joseph J. Kosloski E84 Curtis V. Lett III X84 Betty J. Lewis O36 Paul D. Linton O27 Robert M. Locke E25 Christopher R. McCormick E25 Willie J. Meadows X33
Holly L. Milteer O51 Shelton S. Parson X89 Thomas H. Phillips O15 Timothy F. Randolph M53 Darrel L. Schrock E07 Philip J. Serio X43 Deborah B. Walker O30 Kristin A. Wallis-Thomas E90 Gordon R. Weaver X88
25 Years Brian K. Depriest E12 Ramona Y. Johnson X88 Robert W. Matschke X71 Jerome Thomas X72 Anthony W. Webb O64 20 Years Thomas W. Chappell Jr. X15 Thompson A. Sweeney Jr. X88 Tracy W. Warnick X58
november 45 years Larry L. Bridgman E12 Kenneth R. Clarke O51 Lyle D. Ward X43 40 years Leon P. Bailey O53 Junie J. Bell X31 Benjamin L. Brokenburr X42 Marvin M. Cabe X70 Thomas A. Callaghan E83 Yvonne Christian O14 Walter J. Davis X31 Theodore A. Daye X71 Harry T. Fisher III O53 Stephen T. Hall O22 Edward S. Hammond X70 Charles H. Hundley Jr. X11
Ralph U. Hunt O53 Vincent L. Jones X88 Asa K. Kilmon O57 Ronald C. Liles O22 Sherman W. Mizelle X43 Franklin W. Morrow O38 Clarence E. Raynor X36 Michael G. Roberts X75 Larry D. Simmons O58 Willie E. Spencer X42 Ernest A. Stubbs X42 Harvey N. Tomlin X42 Ethelria L. Townes O53 Larry B. Wood X31 35 years Ronnie J. Aaron E81 Frank P. Atwell X33
30 years Jean M. Armstrong O51 Robert N. Balas T53 Charles R. Basey X88 Richard M. Bennett E57 Michael A. Bova E03 Neal A. Brooks X89 Brian Busin E25 Gerald R. Cady Jr. E85 David R. Cesare E56 Tina A. Chapman O14
25 years James T. Breeding T54 Marshall K. Hudson X11 20 years Carol A. Catoire E86 Bradford M. Hedgepeth O39 Stephanie M. Libby X57
Retirements september Horace M. Askew O46 Michael S. Bailey X67 Melvin P. Cooper X11 Glenn E. Corey O04
Thelma A. Davis X31 Robert G. Donaldson E44 Robert L. Gunter Jr. O11 Raymond Kirk X43
Willie L. Liverman X33 Carthone E. Mitchell X36 John M. Moore X18 Conrad E. Parker X36
William E. Pesola N940 Montie Ridley X33 Hampton V. Snidow Jr. E75 William H. Tynes Jr. X43
Carolyn M. White O71 Glenn D. Williamson O43 James P. Zimmerman X75
october Eddie R. Barefoot X89 Moses H. Brunson O53 Lawrence A. Butler M53 Carolyn S. Campbell E38 Barbara W. Cherry O53
Donald A. Chuyka X71 Ronald A. Dziechciarz X43 Rebecca L. Ellsworth O15 Kenneth Faltz X33 Ronald K. Heichel E58
Joan L. Hitt O09 Roy E. Hoffman Jr. E25 Ralph A. Jordan E85 Agnes M. Manson X33 Charles K. Meeks O15
Russell L. Moody X18 Joan O. Neal E18 Francis L. Perry X31 Charles R. Randolph X15 Michael C. Routten X32
Peter J. Routten E22 Thomas W. Short X18 Rudolph P. Smyt O53 Larry L. Spady X18 Harold E. Weissler II E25
Photo by John Whalen
History Maker:
Lloyd D. Joyner Sr.
Growing up in Smithfield, Va., L.D. Joyner, a Structural Fabrication Assembly planner, lived just across the James River Bridge from Newport News Shipbuilding. A year out of high school, Joyner made his way over that bridge to start his career at the shipyard as a loftsman. His first job was to make paper and wood molds. “Back then, that’s what you cut the steel by,” he said. “We would make the paper and wood molds to the geometry of the ship. Then they were sent to the fabrication shop to cut the steel.” But it wouldn’t be long before Joyner would work his way up the ladder to supervisor and superintendent. He would eventually find his way
into carrier overhaul work, planning the replacements of masts, towers, island houses and sponsons on all of the carriers that came through the shipyard. It’s what he has enjoyed most during his 53 years of shipbuilding. “It’s a challenge. A big repair job – that’s what it is,” he says of overhaul work. “The people are very knowledgeable and you have certain schedules you have to meet. It’s something different every day.” In between aircraft carriers, Joyner was also busy building a family. He and his wife Betty raised three girls, Kim, Karen and Dee, and today, are enjoying doting on their grandchildren, Matthew and Brian.
Matthew has already graduated from college and Brian will be headed there soon to play baseball. “My plan is to retire and watch him play,” said Joyner. He’s thrilled that his children and grandchildren have had the benefit of college educations. “There are plenty of college graduates and a lot of experienced people in the shipyard. That’s what makes us world class.” Joyner is one of those with a lot of experience, which he applies every day to whatever job is before him. “Shipyard teams are like sports teams,” he said. “Everyone should strive to be MVP of their section.” And that’s what Joyner has been doing for the last half century.
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November/December 2011
LOOK INSIDE FOR THE 2012 NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING CALENDAR
Deck Yourself Out Spear and Gear Style A variety of Newport News Shipbuilding merchandise with the “Spear and Gear” logo – ranging from shirts, hats, mugs, and backpacks to baby bibs – is now available online 24/7. Visit the NNS Online Logo Store at www.huntingtoningalls.com/nns/store or call 1-800-229-4677, ext. 319 to place an order. For a specific item or a customized order, ask for Bob Cary at ext. 302. NEW MERCHANDISE ADDED
Read All About It... The 125th anniversary edition of “Always Good Ships: Histories of Newport News Ships” by William A. Fox is now available. To order a copy of the book, visit: http://www.alwaysgoodships.com