I N
T H I S
I S S U E
Keel for Indiana (SSN 789) is Laid CIO Bharat Amin Shares His Vision NNS Celebrates 926 Master Shipbuilders
Photo by Ricky Thompson
SUMMER 2015
Welder Heather Johnson displays the initials of Ship’s Sponsor Diane Donald following the historic weld. Standing behind them are (from L to R) Vice Adm. Michael Connor, Cmdr. Jesse Zimbauer and NNS President Matt Mulherin. Photo by Ricky Thompson
It’s a
Woman’s WELD
A keel-laying ceremony is steeped in tradition. It’s the first major milestone of construction for a naval ship. During the ceremony, the sponsor’s initials are permanently welded onto a plate that will be permanently affixed to the boat. As shipyard tradition would dictate, Ship’s Sponsor Diane Donald chalked her initials, DKD, onto a steel plate for the Virginia-class submarine (VCS) Indiana (SSN 789). The next part of the keel-laying tradition, however, was anything but ordinary. Welder Heather Johnson became the first female shipbuilder at NNS to make the important ceremonial weld during a VCS submarine keel-laying. “I never imagined that I’d have an opportunity like this,” Johnson said. “I know there are a lot of women who came before me and paved the way for this moment to happen. This isn’t just for me. It’s for all the women.” While Johnson is the first woman at NNS to perform the weld, ship sponsors have typically been women. Diane Donald is the wife of retired Admiral Kirkland Donald. She grew up in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, at the height of the big steel industry boom and has an idea of what it takes to build modern machines. “Growing up, I was surrounded by skilled tradesmen,” Donald said. “That’s where I learned true appreciation and respect for the challenge of building things – complicated things – with your hands and under difficult conditions. I extend that same admiration and respect to the thousands of shipbuilders who will do their part to build the next world-class submarine.” Johnson is one of the thousands of shipbuilders working on Indiana, and one of 56 female welders at the shipyard. Mrs. Donald’s initials presented a unique challenge that most ceremony welders have not encountered. Instead of traditional block-style initials, she used a cursive monogram style of writing for the initials. “It was a little bit of a challenge because of the sponsor’s style,” Johnson said. “I had to really work on my timing to make sure it went smoothly and came out great.” Shipbuilders were able to bring their families to the event to showcase their work at NNS. The Hoosier spirit was sprinkled throughout the keel-laying ceremony. NNS engineer and Indiana native Doug Scott performed the national anthem. State flags were prominently on display. And references to the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team were dropped during several remarks. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Indiana’s Commissioning Committee Chairman Ray Shearer, who calls American shipbuilders working on the boat “Hoosiers at Heart.” “The Hoosier State has a great manufacturing legacy and a great Navy legacy. To think that even some of the pieces of the submarine are from and made by people in Indiana – it’s just phenomenal.” I By Jeremy Bustin
EMA PUT LS T TING O TH E TE ST On June 16, Newport News Shipbuilding, General Atomics, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the Navy continued testing of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) on the flight deck of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Ship’s Sponsor and daughter of CVN 78’s namesake, Susan Ford Bales, participated in testing. At her signal, crew members launched a weighted sled or “dead-load” using the new catapult system designed by General Atomics. In just seconds, the 15,465-pound steel sled raced down the 348-foot track and splashed into the James River. CVN 78 is the first aircraft carrier to use the electronic launch system instead of steam catapults. The versatility of the electronic system enables the launch of aircraft as light as 10,000 pounds and as heavy as 100,000 pounds, and puts less wear on the aircraft. Construction Supervisor Dennis Moss has worked with catapult systems for more than 33 years and led the deckplate integration and installation of EMALS. “This was the result of a huge team effort,” he said. “Everyone from engineering to the trades worked with General Atomics and NAVAIR, and were able to give input to make this what it is today.” Machinist Nathan Weiss said he was relieved when he saw that first steel sled launch successfully. “Everything we have done has come together and worked as planned. It makes me proud to know that I was part of one of the major key systems of an aircraft carrier.” Before the launch, shipbuilders and Navy crew members honored the memory of John Ledder, the first NAVAIR representative for the EMALS program, who died in 2012. Bales, shipbuilders and crew members signed the sled that propelled into the James River, while permanently stenciled on its side were the words “LEDDER RIP.” “It’s an unbelievable feeling knowing you had a part in making this dream come true for the Navy. This is by far one of the best warships they will have for years to come,” Moss said. I By Jeremy Bustin
Ship’s Sponsor Susan Ford Bales celebrates with shipbuilders and the Navy after successful Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) testing. Photos by Chris Oxley and John Whalen
StS May 2, at the sound of an air horn, more than 1,000 shipbuilders, their friends and families took to the streets outside the shipyard gates for the eighth Newport News Shipbuilding 5K Fun Run and Walk. The annual event is part of NNS’ health and wellness initiatives.
with their families while also focusing on health. “It doesn’t matter what age or what gender, you can come out and promote your health from the youngest all the way up to the oldest,” said Aaron Hairston, NNS Organizational Development representative.
“Fitness and wellness are important in all aspects of life,” said Brady Goggin, senior Wellness Program coordinator. “You can find something that you enjoy, get your heart rate up, sweat a little bit and have fun doing it.” Goggin explained that employees from all over the shipyard participate in this event every year because it gives them a chance to spend time
Awards were presented to the top finishers, and plans are already in the works for next year’s NNS 5K. “It gives me great pride to know that the shipyard cares about my health,” said Nuclear Engineer Analiza Entrikin, the first female to cross the finish line. I By Aaron Pritchett
StillMovin Moving till Still Moving For the anxious shipbuilders, family and friends assembled May 2, the start of the eighth annual Newport News Shipbuilding 5K represented the culmination of many months of preparation and effort. In their excitement, few may have noticed the solitary wheelchair waiting patiently at the back of the pack. For Designer Warren Garcia, this moment also took months of effort – 21 years’ worth to be exact. Garcia’s path to becoming a shipbuilder was also years in the making. Like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, shipbuilding and design are in his blood. Garcia’s family has had a presence at NNS since the early 1900s, with his great-grandfather laboring on the waterfront and his grandfather retiring as a pipefitter in the early ‘70s. Garcia started working with his father’s civil engineering firm as a teenager. He taught himself and mastered AutoCAD software in addition to working in the field with other engineers during the summer. “I’ve always been fascinated by design and construction,” said Garcia. “I used to trace over my father’s designs as a kid and then try and draw them in AutoCAD. Hanging out with my dad gave me the best design education I could have ever had.” Garcia doesn’t dwell much on the car accident that broke his back and robbed him of the ability to walk days after his 21st birthday. Months in rehabilitation were filled with long, grueling physical and occupational therapy sessions as he fought to regain control of his life. Even as he was surrounded by supportive family and friends, coming to grips with the reality that he would never walk again sank him into depression. In the midst of one of his lowest days, it was his dad’s simple words that provided a wakeup call: “Son, get off your butt and get moving.” His father’s wisdom motivated him to attack his rehab with renewed
vigor. After his discharge, Garcia made the decision that his “chair” was not going to ever place any limitations on his life. He decided to move out on his own and was able to find steady employment using the design skills he had mastered as a teenager. Garcia worked as a designer for M. Rosenblatt & Son and CDI Marine Company in Portsmouth and Newport News before making his way to the shipyard in 2000. Garcia currently works on ship alteration and fleet support designs for the Reactor Plant Planning Yard department. He is regarded by his peers as a “go to” person for AutoCAD problems in his group.
When asked what motivated him to enter the 5K, he said, “I just wanted to see if I could do it.” Did he think he would fail? “Absolutely not. I knew I just needed to just keep moving until I made it to the finish.” Determination, perseverance and overcoming obstacles are some of the many words that could be used to describe Garcia’s approach to life. He is the first to correct you if you describe him as disabled. “I am not disabled,” he said. “I’m just a guy who uses a chair to get around.” Twenty-one years later, Garcia said he is still “off his butt and moving,” getting around quite nicely in this race called life. I By Roslyn Long
Designer Warren Garcia participating in his first Newport News Shipbuilding 5K Fun Run and Walk. Photo by Chris Oxley
Photo by John Whalen
In December 2014, Bharat Amin joined Newport News Shipbuilding as vice president and chief information officer (CIO), responsible for establishing the strategic direction and day-to-day leadership of information technology at NNS. He comes to NNS from BAE Systems Inc., where he held various leadership positions, including vice president and CIO for BAE Systems’ Land & Armaments sector. He holds degrees in mechanical and industrial engineering as well as an executive MBA in international business and finance from Rutgers University. Amin is also an avid walker who can often be found walking to Subway on his lunch break. He is NNS’ executive sponsor for the 2015 Hampton Roads Heart Walk in October. Amin recently sat down with Peter Stern from the Communications Division to discuss his background and strategic direction. What key influences have shaped your career? First, my upbringing. My early childhood was in Kenya, and when I was 10, my family and I moved to India. A few years later, my parents moved back to Kenya and then to the U.K. without me, and I stayed in India to continue my education. That built independence and gave me a broader perspective of the world. Second, the value of education. Once you gain knowledge, no one can take it away from you. When I decided to pursue engineering, I began learning how to focus on solving problems for business improvement. That has really shaped my career. Third, trying new things. I’m always thinking about the new ideas the next generation brings – how young people learn and work differently. I decided years ago to try things as soon as they are available – being an early adopter. That has really influenced how I see the future. How do you apply your engineering background as the CIO of a shipbuilding company? My engineering background really helps me understand a lot of the business challenges. Being the CIO is not just about technology. It’s about business transformation and improvement. I recently visited the welding school, and it was amazing to see their operation and learn how much welding goes on every day in the shipyard. If we don’t understand what the trades go through – their challenges – how can we help them? What are your top priorities? By 2020, there will be four billion Internet-connected people on earth, and more and more information will
become totally digital and available on mobile devices – no paper. I want IT to become a change agent and trusted advisor in that world. Our vision is to be “A Differentiating Force.” We want to earn the business’s trust, not just fulfill orders. In order to gain trust, we must be transparent and accountable for everything we do, so that’s a big priority for me. I’m telling my team, “It’s OK to fail, but fail fast so we can learn and move forward.” If we’re afraid to fail, we will not push the limit. We need to learn what I call “minimal viable product (MVP).” There are cases where we are trying to build a Ferrari when all the business needs is a Ford. I also really want to develop our people, to create a talent pipeline of leaders that will carry forward our Mission and Vision 2020 in IT. Security vs. Innovation: do you think we can do both well? Absolutely, we can do both well. We need to approach information security based on risk. We need maximum viable security for our nuclear and proprietary information – the “company jewels,” if you will. But we can’t put everything in the same vault as the company jewels. Some things only require minimal viable security, where we can take calculated risks. There is so much that we can do with technology to improve our competitiveness without compromising security. My view is that the only way you can beat your competition is to not follow what everybody else is doing. Sometimes, you have to be bold and do something radically different.
NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY COMING TO NORTH YARD Just north of the iconic blue crane, a new 350,000-square-foot facility will soon be added to the shipyard’s footprint. Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) is investing in a new state-of-the-art facility to support Gerald R. Fordclass aircraft carrier construction, and current and future submarine construction. Equipped with multiple worksites, advanced technology, automated equipment, heavy weight cranes, large transportation doors and specialty paint bays, the new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility (JMAF) will enable more efficient construction processes to improve safety, quality, cost and schedule. Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin said, “We are committed to finding new and innovative ways to improve construction and reduce costs that will provide the shipyard with a competitive and sustainable advantage in an industry faced with tightening defense dollars
and budget cuts. The Joint Manufacturing Facility is an opportunity for us to expand our capabilities and reduce costs to support the Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan, and improve the quality of life and safety of our employees.” The JMAF’s interior production areas enable NNS to build larger modules and units protected from the weather. Initially, the jointprogram facility will focus on improving efficiency in bow and stern construction for Virginiaclass submarines, but will be able to support similar work on other classes of submarines as well. There is no employee parking loss as a result of this construction. Prior to construction of the facility beginning this summer, 500 parking spaces will be shifted to other areas in the North Yard. I By Amy McDonald An architectural drawing of the shipyard’s new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility. The JMAF’s first production bay is expected to open in 2017.
Shipyard Father’s Day
Alvin Jenkins, a 40-year veteran of Newport News Shipbuilding and a nuclear pumper, never expected any of his daughters to come work at the shipyard, let alone all three.
“You never know where you’re going to end up,” Alvin said. “I’m glad to have all my daughters here at the shipyard with me. The shipyard has been good to me, and now it’s good to my girls.” From different parts of the yard, now Alvin and Angela Butts, Janet Jenkins
and Alveta Jenkins make shipbuilding a father-daughter calling.
in his footsteps.”
Angela, a Radiological Control mentor trainee and the eldest Jenkins daughter, was the first to come to the yard as an intern in 2001. After graduating from college, she returned in 2014.
Growing up in Franklin, North Carolina, the Jenkins girls heard about the shipyard from their father, but they didn’t initially consider it an option. Angela studied biology at George Mason University, and both Janet and Alveta have backgrounds in nursing.
“It’s special to have all three of us here now,” Angela said. “It makes me feel like the company is really familyoriented. Being here shows how much we all look up to our father, following
“I know he’s real proud that we’re following his example in building ships and helping others along the way,” said Alveta, the youngest and a painter on USS Abraham Lincoln.
MILESTONE
A GRADUATION
Although they may not see each other at work every day, calling the shipyard home is a special bond for the daughters and their father. The four often swap work stories, especially Alveta and Alvin, who still live in Franklin and take the shipyard carpool van to work each day. “I’m proud of my daddy and the 40 years he’s been here,” said Janet, a technician and Apprentice grad. “Everyone knows him. My daddy is one of my best friends.”
And Alvin’s dedication certainly rubbed off on his daughters. “When we were growing up, he worked almost every holiday and every weekend just to provide for us,” Alveta explained. Alvin celebrated his 40th year at the company in 2014, so he attended his first Master Shipbuilders dinner with Janet in April. He said, “I had a great time at the dinner. I saw a lot of my friends celebrating their years, too.”
So this Father’s Day, the three Jenkins daughters came together to celebrate their dad and all he does for them. “We got together with family and friends to cook out on the grill,” said Angela. “He’s always happy just having us all together.” I By Phoebe Doty
(L – R): Sisters Janet Jenkins, Alveta Jenkins and Angela Butts were inspired by their father, Master Shipbuilder Alvin Jenkins, to find careers at the shipyard. Photo by John Whalen
h t i w s r e l i n t u r B a o P t S y t N i l N i S b e A p s i r P e V n a e Cl
At the shipyard, building and maintaining clean ship piping systems is every employee’s responsibility. And, at a nonprofit organization in Hampton, Virginia, supporting the shipyard’s “Build Clean” efforts, it’s Randy Willoughby’s responsibility. Willoughby, a full-time employee at VersAbility, is the sole producer of 40,000 pipe disks a year for the shipyard. “We use these disks to cap and seal the pipes and fittings to make sure no foreign debris or material gets into the piping system,” said Pipefitter Bryan Shahlaminan. “Keeping the systems clean is one of the most important things we do as pipefitters.” During July, the importance of building clean piping systems is reinforced at the shipyard through a month-long awareness campaign. Newport News Shipbuilding employees are encouraged to submit ideas on how to keep the pipe systems free of grit and debris during ship construction. As part of the campaign, members of NNS’ “Build Clean” team recently visited VersAbility to learn about the company and see firsthand the disk fabrication operation. “I was surprised to find out there is only one person who makes the disks. I also had no idea where we get them from,” said Pipefitter Apprentice Stacey LeGrand. “The company is amazing. I’m glad we can support a company like this and they can support our ‘Build Clean’ efforts.”
ld s m e t s Sy
VersAbility has been serving individuals with disabilities in Hampton Roads, like Willoughby, for more than 60 years. In 2014, Newport News Shipbuilding contracted with the agency, of which 54 percent of its workforce is people with disabilities. “We are very proud to be part of your clean pipe system, and we’re appreciative of the partnership we have with Newport News Shipbuilding. You are helping us to create jobs for people with disabilities who experience unemployment levels of up to 80 percent,” said VersAbility’s President and CEO Kasia Grzelkowski. Made of high-density polyurethane, the disks range in size from less than an inch to 14 inches in diameter and are designed to hold up in all kinds of weather conditions. “The disks Randy makes keep the pipes cleaner than the ones we used to use. The old ones were thinner, and in extreme temperatures they would warp so debris would get in the pipe,” LeGrand said. Grit or foreign material in a pipe can be detrimental to the system. Keeping ship piping systems clean also reduces the cost of repairs and allows the systems to operate longer at full capacity without failure. Process Improvement Analyst Randy Burak said, “Using a local company that understands and supports our needs is definitely a bonus. They went out of their way to support our requirements and even bought a new machine to support the contract they have with us.” The smallest disk NNS uses is a quarter-inch, which Willoughby is unable to produce yet because of limitations of the machine he uses for precise cutting. He’s currently working on a design change that will allow the machine to cut the smaller disks without destroying them. “I wake up every morning excited to come to work. This team is everything to me,” he said. VersAbility implements three levels of quality control when producing the disks. After disks are cut on the machine, Willoughby first checks each one to make sure there are no defects. He then wipes them down with a brush to make sure no scrap pieces remain, and then the disks are inspected one last time before they leave the shop. Willoughby said, “If it’s not perfect, it doesn’t go to you guys.” | By Amy McDonald During a visit to VersAbility Resources in Hampton, Virginia, Randy Willoughby (center) shows Stacey LeGrand and Bryan Shahlaminan how he makes the disks NNS shipbuilders use to cap the ends of pipes. Photo by John Whalen
WARNER DELIVERED
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE The nation’s newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, John Warner (SSN 785), was delivered to the Navy June 25 – more than two months ahead of its contract schedule. “This submarine embodies the spirit of John Warner and symbolizes his unwavering support for the Navy and the shipyard,” said Jim Hughes, vice president of Submarines and Fleet Support. “It’s truly special to have a boat named after a living person, and we as shipbuilders are proud to deliver John Warner to the Navy because this submarine will continue Senator Warner’s enduring legacy.” For the more than 4,000 shipbuilders who took part in bringing SSN 785 to life since her construction began in 2010, continuing Sen. Warner’s legacy is something they’ve thought about often.
“There’s something special about this submarine and her crew – it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, but you know it’s there,” said Outside Machinist Troy Williams, whose nickname is “Sarge.” “For me, the boat is special because Sen. John Warner is a former U.S. Marine, like me.” Williams is a member of the Virginia-class Submarine Delivery Team, a 300-person crew responsible for ensuring all parts of the vessel work as they should before final delivery to the Navy. “In addition to validating the quality of all systems, our team also works very closely with crew members. We make sure that they are comfortable with every aspect of the vessel and are capable of performing maintenance when needed once the ship is delivered,” Williams said.
“We are the best-of-the-best,” said Mitchell Hilliard, who has been a member of NNS’ Submarine Delivery Team for the past 14 years. “We are with the submarine throughout her entire construction and work hard to ensure that the submarine stays on schedule.” Sheet Metal Mechanic Jake Hanks said that every milestone is equally important in staying on track to delivery. “Crew move-aboard is one of the most notable milestones for us prior to delivery,” he said. “At that point, we know we’re one step closer to handing the submarine over to the Navy.” Sea trials are the last milestones before the submarine is delivered. Warner successfully completed its sea trials June 11.
Williams was pier-side when Warner departed and returned for both sets of sea trials. He and fellow shipbuilders were also at the pier to celebrate the final milestone – the 12th Virginia-class submarine leaving NNS for the last time to join the Navy fleet. “It’s a sense of accomplishment knowing that my hand and the hands of thousands of shipbuilders across this yard worked together to bring this ship to life.” I By Lauren Shuck
John Warner (SSN 785) completes sea trials June 11. Warner was delivered to the U.S. Navy June 25. Photo by Chris Oxley
MAKING A DIFFERENCE caring for warriors
Structural Welder Dustin Kennedy knows firsthand the satisfaction that comes from helping others. For the past eight years, he has been giving back to local warriors through the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Turkey Hunt. Kennedy began his participation in the annual hunt through the Suffolk WWP in 2007 and then played a key role in establishing the hunt in Gates County, North Carolina, in 2011. “The hunt enables me to share my passion for hunting and is also a small way of giving back to the warriors and showing them how much their sacrifices mean to us,” said Kennedy. “Without this hunt, some of the warriors would never get the opportunity to go hunting due to their disability or other circumstances.” Typically, 12-15 warriors and 50-70 volunteers participate in the three-day event. Kennedy explained, “Usually we have two to three guides paired with each warrior who
NNS SAFETY
REPORT *Compared to figures from May 2014
Year-to-Date Injuries 454
-9%
take the warriors into the woods to their designated stands to hunt, and assist them as necessary.” This year, Kennedy was paired with a Marine sniper. “He was an experienced hunter, but had never gone turkey hunting before. So he was very thankful for the experience.” Another highlight of the weekend is mealtime, when the guides and warriors congregate. “It’s a special time because everyone is together,” Kennedy said. “We sit around the table and tell stories, talk about family and get to know each other. The camaraderie is amazing. Even though the hunt only lasts three days, some of the friendships made during the weekend last a lifetime.” I By Lauren Shuck Dustin Kennedy (second row, 5th from the left) at the 2015 Wounded Warrior Project Turkey Hunt that he helps organize.
Year-to-Date Injuries with Lost Time 165
+11%
-9%
Year-to-Date Lost Work Days 5,904
pushing thru For five Newport News Shipbuilding employees, cycling is more than just a hobby. Meet Labor Relations Representatives Eric Herman and Jackson Herman, and father-son duo Steven Scott and Brian Scott from Production Planning and Radiological Control Engineering, respectively. Led by another member of the Labor Relations team, Geoffrey Coleman, the cyclists formed Pushthru in October 2014 to ride in charity cycling events. “Jackson coined the name,” explained Coleman, who has been cycling since the late 1990s. “Pushing through means a lot in anything you do. If you’ve gone a long distance and want to quit, you have to push through and finish, whether you’re riding a bike or going through a rough time in life.” Together, the shipbuilders, along with two friends, push through long rides to support local and national causes. “In May, we participated in the Cap2Cap ride,” Brian said. The Williamsburg to Richmond ride helped raise money for the Virginia Capital Trail, a multi-use trail that, once
complete, will traverse 52 miles from Virginia’s historic capital of Williamsburg to its current capital, Richmond. “This ride was for a good cause because the money goes to the trail for people like us to enjoy,” Brian added. The entrance fees for many of the events go to not-forprofit charities. Riders can also raise additional funds for the cause. “Geoffrey and I rode 102 miles in the Tour de Cure,” said Eric. This ride in Suffolk, Virginia, supported the American Diabetes Association. “I raised $1,200 for the Tour de Cure. It’s always gratifying to raise money. Anytime I see a ride that helps somebody, it piques my interest.” I By Phoebe Doty If you’d like to learn more or participate with the team, email pushthrucycling@gmail.com. Shipbuilders (L to R) Brian Scott, Jackson Herman, Geoffrey Coleman, Eric Herman and Steve Scott enjoy cycling together to support charitable causes. Photo by John Whalen
MASTER SHIPBUILDERS
may
Reggie B. Banks 40 years
Earl Blackwell 40 years
Claude “CD” Brown 40 years
Harold “Bemo” Butler 40 years
Monty Craddock 40 years
Howard W. Dobie 40 years
Joe Edmonds 40 years
Charlie Hubbard 50 years
Larry Moore 40 years
William “Pope” Pope Jr. 40 years
Neal Quesnel 40 years
Alan Riley 40 years
Wendell Williams Jr. 40 years
LONG SERVICE 50 YEARS Charles W. Hubbard M53 40 YEARS Gregory K. Ballew X42 Reginald L. Banks X36 James E. Blackwell X33 Terrance L. Bridges X82 Claude D. Brown X70 Harold M. Butler X36 Monroe H. Craddock O43 Howard W. Dobie X70 Joseph A. Edmonds X31 Raymond E. Harris X18 Larry J. Moore X33 James M. Perry X70 William Pope Jr. X11 Bernard N. Quesnel K03 Alan L. Riley O43 Kenneth R. Serrano X42 Michael H. Voight O43 Wendell G. Williams Jr. O41 35 YEARS Totten L. Avis O31
Mark A. Basnight X32 Frederick D. Baum O53 Glenn A. Blythe O53 Elliott C. Byrd II O67 George T. Church X32 Richard D. Cook O43 James W. Dillard E82 Gregory A. Eby X84 Alden H. Echols X73 Carlton H. Epps Jr. O43 Dennis Farmer O46 Thomas N. Gage Jr. O43 Larry N. Gibson X73 Mark A. Giles III X31 Michael G. Griffin E82 Thomas R. Herrin X82 Bruce G. Herring T55 Michael S. Jenkins X42 Rodney J. Joines O39 Ellen C. Jones O67 Robert A. Jones O68 Needham E. Jones Jr. X72 Percy L. Jones Jr. E57 Marie W. Keesee E82 Neal A. Lineberry Jr. X84
may Richard E. Loveless X59 Charles E. Lovett O31 Phillip T. Lunsford X70 Kennon J. Marsh X32 Ronald R. Meyer O46 Naaman D. Minton X43 Alvin W. Parker E82 Charlie M. Pearson T53 Geraldine Y. Stith O53 Isaiah M. Turner III X33 Philip L. Tyler O39 Laura B. Warren AMSEC Jonathan B. Washington O53 Charle F. Wellons O46 James C. Young X59 30 YEARS Cassandra R. Baughans O67 Virgie S. Beck T52 Scott D. Borer X88 Kevin W. Bowden T56 Timothy D. Bunner O39 Karen M. Butler E85 Axel L. Crimmins E15 Jane E. Day E15
Charles E. Drake X70 Rodney Edwards X33 Carol A. Folsom X84 Julie B. Hancock E03 David C. Harvey E88 John N. Hoffler X33 Joseph T. Longton E14 Deborah H. Mason O46 John G. Peckham E65 Lana J. Ponsonby O26 Lisa M. Renn O13 Phillip G. True E25 Clayton H. Watkins E65 Kevin R. Willis X88 25 YEARS Dale C. Abbott E17 Lewis J. Adams X36 Raymond L. Bell X11 William C. Booth Jr. X36 Tommy Brooks O15 Richard C. Brown E57 Kevin D. Butts X11 Mark H. Carneal E82 John I. Clark Jr. O15
Michael S. Cook X18 Michael W. Cross E85 Eric S. Daniels X70 James K. Daniels O19 William G. Diaz X70 Robert W. Dougherty E83 Sharon D. Dupre X33 Stephanie R. Edler O04 Mark A. Eissing E22 Ronald L. Goble X88 Michael W. Griffith E85 Todd J. Gwaltney E82 Anthony Hampton X73 Tommy W. Hatfield O38 Alvin C. Jackson X36 Ralph Jones X33 Timothy V. Joyner X36 Garland J. Lawson Jr. E85 James T. Lenceski O75 Rosalind D. Mitchell X31 John B. Nelms E21 Donald R. Northway A572 Michael S. Ogle E86 Mark R. Pirhala O67 Don D. Pritt E25
Eugene T. Reimer Jr. E85 Timothy L. Sivertson E83 Michael A. Smith X36 Bruce H. Snyder AMSEC Beverly M. Staten X11 Audrey W. Streat E84 Franklin H. Sullivan E85 Glen R. Tyler X88 James R. Weber X82 Joseph E. Wilson Jr. E03 Tony L. Wood X43 Eric O. Wynne O67 20 YEARS Corey M. Berger O22 Bradley F. Causey E27 David M. Drake E44 Earl L. Hearp O51 David J. Kriner O51 Philip R. Mcpherson AMSEC George Patistas E83 Gregory L. Ruff X75 Todd C. Scherrer O51 Avelino Vizconde Jr. E25 Sherry L. Wertz E17
April/May
RETIREMENTS John Adams E63 Larry Agnor O41 Richard Allen E07 Kenneth Alley O40 John Amend O31 James Amos X91 Albert Amundsen E22 Robert Anthony E12 Walter Armstrong Jr. O27 James Armstrong Jr. E83 Larry Arrington E39 Marie Austin E13 William Ayers X36 Joseph Ballard X67 Michael Barger X36 Stephen Barresi E01 John Bartlett O20 Linda Beagle E65 Cheryl Belknap X88 Willis Belvin X33 Gary Blake X74 Francis Blake III O63 Robert Blount X70 Walter Boatwright E13 Daniel Bochman X89 Cynthia Boyd-Williams O52 Joseph Bradley E86 James Brennan E63 Philip Britton O37 John Bronner E18 Russell Brooks E89 Ronald Brosius E24 Robert Brown X70 Robert Brown E15 Thomas Brown M71 Chester Bundick O48 Robert Burke E84 Randy Burns E86 Stephen Butkus E17 Joe Butler Jr. X11 Robbie Bynum E21 Kevin Campbell O40 Jacob Caplinger III E86 William Causey O43 Robert Chandler O87 Robert Chapman E81 James Chappell O19 Neal Cheney T55 Michael Cherry M20
Donald Clark E68 Kenneth Clarke O51 William Colligan O68 Michael Congleton O27 Thomas Cook X82 Miachel Cosgrove E42 George Cotsimopoulos X50 Kenneth Crocker Jr. X91 David Crooke O21 Monrickie Culotta X88 George Cunningham O31 Kathy D’andria O79 Thomas Daniel O57 Larry Davis X82 Bettie Den Dekker E26 David Dennis O19 Stephen Dewitt E81 Betty Dickson E18 Robert Dillard Jr. X71 Terry Dow X42 Richard Duffey E81 James Durham O98 Arthur Dyke Jr. O43 Suzanne Dynes X71 Vance Eason E84 Stephen Edwards E84 Jarvis Ellis O46 Simon Esperanza E17 Kathleen Etxegoien K01 Willie Evans E81 Donnie Faulkner O48 Kimberly Ferguson E70 Dana Ferrell O04 John Fitzgerald E51 Daniel Frey O58 Michael Fromal O48 Joseph Gallagher E83 Deborah Garrison X87 John Gathers E21 Karl Gayles X70 Thomas Gentry E51 Hugh Gibson O26 Michael Goeller E07 William Goodman O19 Donnie Goodrich E83 Howard Gore X50 Ervin Graves X70 Kevin Gray X82 Douglas Gregory O39
James Grogg E18 Georgia Guild X88 Arthur E. Gussett X33 Robert Hall X89 Edward Hammond X71 Arthur Harding Jr. O79 Juanita Harris O51 James Harris III E70 Darrell Harrison X88 Roy Hawkins E17 Thomas Henderson X70 James Hicks Jr. T53 Kenneth Hill Jr. M71 Joyce Hines O53 Robert Hoar E22 Michael Hobson M53 Cindy Hodges E83 Donnie Hodges E42 Kenneth Hoffman X91 Eddie Holden E15 Vicky Holden O12 Meldon Holjes Jr. K93 Bettie Howard O19 Charles Hudgins X70 James Hughes O22 Malcolm Humphries O37 Coolidge Hunter E85 Ferit Istarki E22 Margaret Jackson E89 Richard Jacobson E09 Jeffrey Jeffers E84 Jeremiah Jefferson X71 Jeanette Jenkins E88 Richard Johnson O84 Laura Jones E18 Paul Jones X88 Gregory Jones E38 Claude Jones III E17 Marshall Jowett E83 Linkous Keene X70 Colin Kelly O39 William King Jr. O39 Gregory Kline O45 Timothy Kroha E05 John Lawrence III E83 William Laz O84 Edgar Lemon X91 Mary Lesane X71 Mary Lewis E38
James Libertini E83 William Logan X43 Richard Loud X70 Michael Lowrie X82 Carolyn Mann O77 Vernetta Marble E45 Willie Marlins III M53 Janette Marti E45 Howard Martin O48 Randy Mason X88 David McCoy X10 Neal McNeill O31 David McCarthy X91 Glenn McKenzie E25 Jeneene McLemore E79 Merrill Meng O35 Thomas Merilic X71 Richard Miller X82 Steven Moore O51 Sharon Morris E39 William Morris O61 Lando Morrison E85 Betty Mrozek E83 William Murphy E51 Johnnie Myers Jr. X91 Larry Needam O94 Ray Nelson X75 John Newbill X73 Dennis Nicely X87 William Nicolls III X73 Richard Nicosia X72 Cynthia Norge O27 Peggy Norman O14 James Olaughlen O19 Lloyd Ormon E30 Michael Ownbey X70 John Owney O43 John Pace O58 Joann Panuska E60 Wendell Parker X82 James Parrish E89 Cecil Parrott X89 Jeffrey Parry E07 William Pauls E69 William Peed Jr. E82 Rebecca Pereira O14 William Perkinson III E79 Ashton Peterson M10 Randolph Phillips E88
Thomas Pierce X59 Tony Plumb E83 Marvin Porter O67 Powell Powell E30 Dwight Powell E82 Ronnie W. Pretlow X18 William Przytula T55 Philip Quinn O19 Robert Rantanen O79 James Rentz X10 Jose Reyes E83 Mark Richards E75 Larry Richardson K93 Wayne Richardson E86 G. Thomas Roberts X89 Jessie Robinson O46 Kathy Rogers E73 Robert Rogers II X84 Brenda Roth K18 Lennie Routten O31 Jennings Rowe Jr. X80 Boris Ruizgoubert E25 Barbara Sanders E17 Michael Saunders O67 Robert Schaffner E75 Frederick Schmidt E82 John Schoch Jr. O62 Charles Schouster X70 Randolph Scott X42 Daniel Scott X91 Charles Sexton Jr. E25 Freddie Shaw Jr. E25 William Sherman E13 James Shumate X59 Shonda M. Sidney X33 Bruce Silverthorn N363 Maryellen Smalls E13 Gloria Smallwood O14 Russell Smith T53 David Smith X50 John Smith Jr. X91 Leroy Smith Jr. O27 Donald Sniady O39 William Solomon Jr. X31 Russell Sorensen X89 Terry Sowder O15 David Spencer X89 Ivery Steele X87 John Sterne E22
ON THE COVER
Yardlines is published 10 times a year for the employees of Newport News Shipbuilding.
Magnetic and Penetrant Testing (MT/ PT) Inspector Colby Wiggins uses a yoke, LED flashlight and PT powder to perform a magnetic practical inspection on a submarine frame cell in the Steel Production Fabrication Shop.
JUNE 2015
This issue of Yardlines was produced by: Jeremy Bustin, Troy Cooper, Phoebe Doty, Margie Jones, Amy McDonald, Eugene Phillips, Aaron Pritchett, LaMar Smith, Peter Stern, Lauren Shuck and Susan Sumner. Editor: Gina Chew-Holman Send change of address, comments, questions and story ideas to communications@hii-nns.com or call 757-380-2627. To stop receiving Yardlines, go to nns.huntingtoningalls.com/Yardlines to unsubscribe. T H I S
I S S U E
Keel for Indiana (SSN 789) is Laid CIO Bharat Amin Shares His Vision NNS Celebrates 926 Master Shipbuilders
Photo by Chris Oxley
I N
nns.huntingtoningalls.com
Eric Stevens O40 Theodore Stewart O61 Donald Suits X88 Lucy Tackett E85 C. Tanner E26 Paul Taylor Jr. X10 Mark Tessarolo E84 Jeffrey Theobald X84 Shirl Thomas O51 James Thoms E44 Annette Tobias X10 Roselyn Todd Yourish O79 Ernest Tolliver X70 James Topping Jr. E27 Richard Tucker X82 Gary Turner O53 Rufus Turner X70 Margaret Tyminski O53 Thomas Urbanowicz E68 Samuel Vreeland K83 Benjamin Waits E38 Eileen Wallace E61 John Wander E04 William Ward E25 Linwood Washington E38 Johnny Waters O05 Jerry Watkins E60 Ronald Weiss E71 Donald Weiss X82 Bryan West III E25 Effie Whitehead O57 Wendell Whitehead X89 Janet Wielinga E83 Pieter Wielinga E19 Lois Wilhelm E17 Charles Wilkerson O15 Larry Wilkerson E41 Douglas E. Williams X32 William Williams III E60 Edward Willingham Jr. E83 Rebecca Wood E02 Michael Woodard E21 James Woodson K78 Ingrid Wright E07 James Young E61 John Young Jr. O23 Gaylene Zimmer E69
MASTER SHIPBUILDERS
june
Gerald Alston 40 years
Leon “Baby Boy” Banks 40 years
Don Bracy 40 years
John “Bull” Bullock 40 years
Dick Dickens 40 years
Doug R. Eubanks 40 years
C.A. “Tony” Everett 40 years
Marvin “Cigar” Fogg Jr. 40 years
Barry Gibbs 40 years
Dennis Grady 40 years
Curtis W. Joyner 40 years
Rick Machen 40 years
William “Pee” Riddick 40 years
Ricky Shipley Jr. 40 years
Bernard “Big Willie” Williams 40 years
Drew Williams 40 years
LONG SERVICE 40 YEARS Gerald Alston X18 Leon Banks X36 Donald G. Bracy E88 Herbert J. Bridges X42 John A. Bullock X88 Mario L. Chale X67 Lynn M. Dickens X31 Douglas R. Eubanks X88 Charlie A. Everett X36 Marvin W. Fogg Sr. X42 Barry L. Gibbs X72 Dennis K. Grady X42 Curtis W. Joyner X36 Richard E. Machen X11 William J. Riddick X33 Richard C. Shipley Jr. X32 Carl N. Stanley Jr. X59 Andrew J. Williams X36 Bernard E. Williams X42 35 YEARS Jerone D. Abner X33 Jeff A. Albright X15 Carlton W. Bacon X73 Jose D. Baltazar E71 Clinton L. Barnard Jr. X33 Charles E. Battle X33 Michael T. Blackshear O64 James Bochel E20 David W Boone X82 William Boze K82 David J. Bracy X70 Richard T. Braddy O39
Lorenzo Brown X36 Terry L. Brown X36 Phillip L. Brown Jr. O68 Dennis E. Burr X70 Donald W. Butler O46 Hugh D. Byrd Jr. O27 Douglas F. Cox X73 Howard G. Cox O58 Max C. Cox Jr. O38 Tyrone M. Dawson X33 Michael W. Ellis O58 Larry D. Everette X33 Howard T. Ewing X70 Gwenevere S. Fauntleroy E82 Curtis R. Fennell X36 Philip H. Gibson Jr. E65 Dewayne R. Goldie E56 James H. Griffin Jr. X43 Randy W. Hacker X18 Terrence L. Hamilton E14 Ty D. Harrison O53 Wilson C. Hayes Jr. K78 McKinley Holloway Jr. X70 Randall H. Hull O46 Dean L. Johnson X11 Teresa A. Johnson X10 Alton W. Jordan X36 Lawrence A. Keithley Jr. O39 Michael K. King X32 Harry L. Knepp A572 James K. Lawson E14 James D. Lewis E81 Crim C. Lotts X59 David W. Lovette X43
june Michael S. Mader E46 Michael V. Marshall X84 Evelyn S. Mathis O20 Wayne K. Maxwell X70 Willie L. McBee Jr. E81 Reginald E. Minnigan N206 Alfred S. Monfalcone X70 Lemual O. Moody E25 Michael J. Moore O39 Christopher M. Noe M53 Kelvin E. Norman X43 David R. Oliver E88 Jeffrey T. Oliver E24 Patricia A. Pauquette E08 Stanley Payne X36 Michael J. Polentz E17 Floyd C. Price X88 John E. Rainey Jr. A572 Randy A. Reece E65 Roland T. Rice E63 Joseph M. Sabol O61 Carol I. Scarberry X57 Stephen L. Schroeder E25 Kent D. Shoemaker O27 James D. Skinner E17 Dwight E. Solomon X33 Russell W. Spady O07 Larry D. Stokes X33 Gregory A. Taliaferro O38 Clyde M. Tennyson E22 John D. Ulmer E25 Steven P. Vanness E63 Michael A. Wachowiak E88 Gary L. Wagner K07
Laura B. Warren AMSEC Curtis L. Webb O43 Kevin N. Webb X89 Leander M. Wheelehan E20 Stephen J. White X50 Anthony W. Wicker X32 Jerry L. Williams Jr. E82 Ann C. Wren E17 Charles W. Young E51
Lorena L. Pearce O19 Darlene A. Peele E63 Andre L. Reid E85 David L. Root X18 Reginald M. Thomas X33 Terry J. Tyler Jr. E30 Michael J. Wallace E25 Marvin A. Watson X18 Peter K. Wong N364
30 YEARS Richard H. Billups Jr. X11 Jerome E. Blair III X72 Terry M. Bush X88 Peggy A. Carroll X33 Michael J. Davis X33 Ronald Dillard X33 Kerry M. Edwards O97 Arnetta D. Elam X33 Anthony R. Fecondo Jr. E60 Stephen R. Harmeson T54 Stephen W. Hathaway X10 Robert T. Hopkins E86 Rayfield Hyman X33 Andrew V. Jenkins M53 David S. Labuda X33 Denny Machie E83 Eugene E. Markham E21 Denise D. Martin E80 Stephen E. Morton E84 John E. Mulvey E14 Richard L. Nierman III O04 Richard W. Oneil Jr. O48 Tab C. Pake X36
25 YEARS Darrell K. Baker X42 Larry D. Brooks Jr. X36 Andrea D. Brown X33 Steven W. Buchanan O75 Thomas E. Chapman X75 Samuel D. Clark X36 Barbara A. Clayton N358 Michael K. Connly T55 Paul O. Craven III E25 Cynthia S. Deaver O54 Teresa Dixon X43 Sean M. Flynn X31 Kevin L. Gentry E21 Robert J. Gies O62 Sheila K. Harrison X33 Timothy C. Henness T54 Sharon G. Hobbs X73 William G. Holcomb III X18 Montina L. Howell X31 James W. Jessup O22 Harold Johnson X11 Michael J. Lengyel E88 Joseph S. Londeree X43
William G. Mace E22 Glorina M. Messer O46 Larry W. Miller X33 Paul J. Northey O75 Tonya L. Oliver X31 Donald W. Perrin X36 Richard S. Praileau X36 John A. Reading X31 Lafayette D. Roberson X36 Shelton M. Scott X42 Bruce H. Snyder AMSEC Thomas W. Spikes X32 Paul D. Summa E44 Leslie B. Tatum X43 Glen L. Taylor X32 George D. Thompson X31 Ike Turner X73 Patrick R. Vick E83 Michael J. Wagner O48 Michael L. Warren II X89 Jeffrey S. Whipple X18 Adrian L. White X36 Curtis G. Worley X42 20 YEARS John R. Bowser X89 Darrin M. Cary E85 Kimberly E. Kelly X84 Philip R. McPherson AMSEC Carolyn K. Pittman O70 Paul D. Ross E82 Earnest P. Williams Jr. X59
R E N N I D S R E D L I MASTER SHIPBU
al only had one go r Melvin Sherrod de el W , 20 st At ju rd. “I ilding honored ork at the shipya port News Shipbu n he applied to w he w ,” he said. be d On April 30, New ul welder I co s during the st er be ild e th bu ip be sh to ed d or six wante its most season ition have worked five ipbuilders Recogn t of people who Sh lo r a te as ow M to kn al “I ay w nu e 26 th an tion stay all th on Roads Conven , but I wanted to pt bs m jo Ha nt e re th ffe at di y Ceremon at might be.” -capacity, ent – whenever th oom filled to near em tir re Center. In a ballr builders from 926 Master Ship t and admiration guests celebrated or more a night of respec 40 g so in al rv as se w r It fo d ize p. who were recogn an r the special grou senior leaders fo e shipyard. It was th at s ar ye us continuo ilders, whose ent Mat t ion for the shipbu om,” NNS Presid isd w es m co e. e ic evening of reflect ag rv “With years of se whom the next spanned 39,592 ou are the ones combined work Mulherin said. “Y to. You are our shipbuilders look id she had no of sa n x tio Co ra te ne et ge an nt Je decisions they Executive Assista the ones whose n she e he ar w u rd Yo ya . ip rs sh he e ac te tors. You are king at th . You are our men intentions of wor m fro n ar le d an trust You are our . rive to become. st was hired in 1974 ey th m ho w d the ones es who have stoo e could d you are the on ve her a ride so sh An gi s. to el e od es m m iti d le rs ke ro ve as and ad “A friend hile I was in the many challenges ion,” she said. “W silient and faced re inspiration.” I r ou apply for a posit e to apply.” ent. You ar ed om ag m ur is th co at en e as riv to ar waiting area, I w e th in k or By Jeremy Bustin w to r ived an of fe ce re x Co jacket k, ee w -yearThe next his Master Shipbuilder years later, the 78 lvin Sherrod shows off y rt Me ee Fo uct t. ind en w Ne rtm Nuclear depa ky Thompson amazing place to and patch. Photo by Ric to leave. “It’s an s an pl no s s ha ha d ol 40 years. It ght I’d make it to work. I never thou joyed it and will l journey. I’ve en been a wonderfu long as I can.” keep working as
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NNS to Modernize CVN 77 On June 22, Newport News Shipbuilding received a $23.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy for nuclear propulsion and complex modernization work on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The work, which is being performed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, is scheduled to be completed in November. Named after the 41st president of the United States, USS George H.W. Bush is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The ship was first delivered to the Navy in 2009 and is home-ported at Naval Station Norfolk. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy
TO OUR READERS: As a cost-savings measure, we are reducing the numbers of Yardlines we publish each year. This change will come in two phases. This year, we will publish six issues, and in 2016, we will publish four. To continue recognizing shipbuilders who have worked at Newport News Shipbuilding 20 or more years, we will publish our Long Service feature once a month on the NNS website and in Currents, the shipyard’s weekly newsletter. We hope you will enjoy this summer edition, our fifth, and we will look forward to bringing you more news about our fascinating world of shipbuilding later this fall. Please browse the NNS website and HII social media sites to get frequent updates, news and videos.
Gina Chew-Holman Manager of Employee Communications and Yardlines Editor