6 l 27 l 2022
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Photo by Nicholas Langhorne
Connecting to the Mission As Enterprise (CVN 80) begins to take shape in Dry Dock 12 at Newport News Shipbuilding, program leaders want to ensure shipbuilders connect to the aircraft carrier’s mission and purpose – especially in this early stage of its life.
as a complete vessel. But, eventually they will turn into a massive, complex aircraft carrier that this country relies on to protect our freedoms and to protect the sailors who are on the front lines for us.”
Brian Fields, vice president of Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) Aircraft Carrier Programs, said it was a particularly important message since there are so many new shipbuilders working on the program. That’s why the CVN 80 program held engagement events last week for the entire team on all three shifts.
To drive the point home, guest speakers addressed the CVN 80 team. Capt. Cassidy Norman, commanding officer of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), spoke during the first shift event. Mark Colombo (K01), a retired Navy pilot, spoke during the event for second- and third-shift employees.
“We want to make sure everyone understands that the purpose of what they’re doing is a lot bigger than the job in front of them every day,” Fields said. “At this stage of construction, a ship’s force crew has not yet been assigned and you may not see these pieces of steel
Norman, who has deployed overseas numerous times on aircraft carriers – including Enterprise (CVN 65), shared his experiences as a pilot flying over Iraq and Afghanistan. He thanked shipbuilders for doing “a fantastic job” building the nation’s carriers. CONTINUED ON PG 2
Navy Commissions USS Montana (SSN 794) USS Montana (SSN 794) officially joined the U.S. Navy’s fleet during a commissioning ceremony Saturday, June 25, at Naval Station Norfolk. Montana is the 10th Virginia-class submarine delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding and the 21st built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.
Sailors participate in the commissioning ceremony for USS Montana. U.S. Navy photo
During the commissioning ceremony, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, the ship’s sponsor, gave the crew the traditional order to “man our ship and bring her to life,” after which Montana’s sailors ceremonially ran aboard the submarine. CONTINUED ON PG 2