5 | 2 | 2016
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Personal Camera-Enabled Devices Allowed on NNS Property Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin sent a video message to employees last week announcing that personal camera-enabled devices (PCED) would be allowed inside the shipyard starting Monday, May 2. During the Delaware keel laying ceremony on April 30, Newport News Shipbuilding welder L.A. Britt welds ship’s sponsor Dr. Jill Biden’s initials into a plate that will be permanently affixed to the submarine, symbolizing her lifelong relationship with the shipbuilders and crew. Photo by Ricky Thompson
NNS Lays Keel for Delaware On April 30, Newport News Shipbuilding celebrated the keel laying of the Virginia-class submarine Delaware (SSN 791) with Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States and ship’s sponsor. During the ceremony, she declared the keel “truly and fairly laid.” The keel laying signifies the ceremonial start of construction for the newest U.S. Navy vessel named for “The First State.” In her remarks, Biden addressed the crew of Delaware not just as the ship’s sponsor, but as a military mother and grandmother. “It’s our duty to make sure that you have everything you need to stay safe and do your jobs,” Biden said. “You need the very best equipment and advanced technology that we can provide, and soon that will include the USS Delaware, thanks to the ingenuity and skill of the shipbuilders before us.” Other ceremony participants included Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe; Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del.; Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va.; Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.; Vice Adm. Joseph Tofalo, commander of Submarine Forces, Submarine Forces Atlantic and Allied Submarine Command; Matt Mulherin, president, Newport News Shipbuilding; and Jeffrey S. Geiger, president, General Dynamics Electric Boat.
In the message, Mulherin said that he believed that updating the policy would be a good change for the company. He also noted that the change comes with a lot of responsibility. “...The responsibility to stay focused on the work at hand, to not be distracted, and to ensure that no one without authorization uses the camera and video functions while at the shipyard. It’s our responsibility to protect our business, our products and ultimately the men and women who will use the great ships we built to protect our nation,” he said. Employees are encouraged to take time to visit nns.huntingtoningalls.com/pced on the company’s public website to review the video message, an updated list of frequently asked questions, employee tips and other resources regarding the policy. As a reminder, all unauthorized use of photo and video should be reported to the Security Command Center at 380-4031.
In his remarks, McAuliffe addressed the importance of the shipbuilding industry in Virginia. “I want to thank the greatest shipbuilders in the entire world that we have here right at Newport News,” McAuliffe said. “No other state can say this: 28,500 shipbuilders—one out of five in the United States of America—are here in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” More than 4,000 shipbuilders support the construction of Delaware. The submarine will be the newest Navy vessel named for the country’s first state, following the dreadnought battleship USS Delaware (BB 28) that was delivered by Newport News in 1910.
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Visit the 130th Anniversary website to watch new congratulatory video messages from NNWB International Airport, Mike Kuhns, President and CEO of VA Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, and Virginia House of Delegates, Daun Hester. New videos are added to the website each week.