Yardlines, Jan-Feb 2012

In This Issue Kitting Warehouse Transformed The Huntington Eagle Reproduced

Yardlines

Photo by John Whalen

Up and Running at Kesselring

A Publication of Newport News Shipbuilding

January/February 2012

Up and Running at

Kesselring Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) gained more than 100 new employees Dec. 30 — but they won’t be found entering the shipyard gates every day. Instead, the new NNS employees will represent the spear and gear at the Kenneth A. Kesselring Site in West Milton, N.Y., a nuclear power training facility that supports the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program.

“We are excited to welcome our Kesselring team to Newport News Shipbuilding,” said Matt Mulherin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding. “We are fortunate to be gaining a wealth of talent and knowledge that will be of great benefit to both sites as we continue to explore ways to leverage our skills and capabilities in support of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program.”

NNS was awarded an industrial subcontract in September 2011 by Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp.

(BMPC) to provide maintenance services on two nuclear reactor prototypes at the Kesselring site.

NNS successfully competed for the cost-plus-fixedfee, level-of-effort contract that contains a five-year base period valued at $195 million with a five-year option valued at $395 million. A NNS management

team, operating under the Nuclear Propulsion division, relocated to Kesselring in October to begin the transition period.

“The transition was a very positive experience,” said Kent Williams, NNS’ director of nuclear engineering and Kesselring site director. “We have been received with open arms and look forward to working together to provide BMPC with the highest-quality maintenance services for its Kesselring site.”

Joining Williams on the Kesselring management team

are: Mike Lengyel, production manager; Kela Lofton, engineering manager; Dan Ploutz, Radcon manager; Dave Traugott, quality manager; Al Wagner, finance, project planning, cost control manager; and Ken Congleton, environmental, safety and health manager.

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) Kesselring site employees David Wood (left) and Donald Long (center) and his wife Carol are welcomed by NNS President Matt Mulherin at a Jan. 12 reception in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Photo by Stock Studios Photography

Fitting

Teamwork Shipbuilders working in the Pipe Shop accomplished a major milestone at the end of 2011 when they completed the 50,000th pipe work package for Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). A total of 80,000 pipe shop work packages are expected to be completed for the ship prior to delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2015.

“It is teamwork that has allowed us to accomplish this milestone,” said Pipe Fitter Cashina Bruce. “I have worked in the Pipe Shop for five years and everyone here is like family. We all seem to click into our own routine and accomplish all that is required of us in a day’s work if not more.”

Bruce, who works on third-shift, is responsible for fabricating pipe details for the carrier. She was among the 300 shipbuilders treated to a recognition breakfast in December for reaching the milestone.

During the breakfast, Pipe Shop Superintendent Kenton Meland said, “I am extremely proud of all of our employees who are helping us achieve record quality, schedule, and cost performance and being responsive to the ship’s construction team.”

The Pipe Shop is currently producing pipe details with 55 percent less labor than what was required for construction of the last aircraft carrier, George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).

“Most of my colleagues and I are authorized to perform multiple tasks, which has played a large role in our shop’s ability to be efficient with our time and meet our goals,” said Bruce. “Once one job is complete, we are able to move on to the next without any delay.”

In closing remarks Meland said, “President Gerald R. Ford earned a strong reputation for teamwork during his long career in public service,” said Meland. “It is a fitting tribute to his legacy that we enjoy such outstanding teamwork for the ship that will bear his name.”

Shipbuilder Cashina Bruce concentrates as she carefully fits two pipes together.

Photo by Ricky Thompson

New Heat at the Foundry Just like at home, the furnaces at the Foundry get old and inefficient and finally need to be replaced. Late last year, that’s exactly what happened at the Newport News Shipbuilding Foundry.

Among the six furnaces in the Foundry, Furnace C needed to be updated. It was last replaced in January 1950 when the shipyard purchased it refurbished from the Ford Motor Company. After an analysis and study, Facilities Senior Engineer John Middleton determined that installing a brand new furnace would be more cost-effective than refurbishing the existing one.

The Foundry furnaces are instrumental in turning hard-as-nails steel into the molten liquid necessary to build ships. Last year, more than 2 million pounds of steel were melted.

With the new state-of-the-art art furnace, hydraulic and electronic components of the machine allow most work to be completed from the ground. According to Furnace and Ladle Man Kenneth Sykes, the new furnace improves all processes, especially when an electrode becomes lodged during a melting procedure. Electrodes produce friction, which produces the heat inside the furnace. If these heat conductors become blocked, the furnace won’t function properly.

“Sometimes, the old furnace required us to go to the top of the furnace in a crane to manually slip the electrodes back into place. The new furnace has a hydraulic arm that will move lodged electrodes at the flip of a switch,” said Sykes.

The new furnace will also accommodate twice the weight of metal as the earlier furnace, which will help with ramped up production on submarine programs. Furnace Operator Herman Mayfield said, “The amount of metal the new furnace can melt reduces the manpower needed to operate the machine. This will free up employees to complete other essential projects, reducing costs.”

The Foundry’s new arc furnace is more efficient and cost-effective. Photo by Chris Oxley

By the

Dawn’s Early Light For more than 30 years Alvin Wilson has worked in the dark. He is walking through the shipyard gates when other employees are home snug in their beds. But that’s the way Wilson likes it, and he has no plans to change his thirdshift lifestyle.

“You see a lot of pretty stars when you are walking out there by the waterfront,” he said. “It’s real quiet. I see things day shift people don’t get to see.”

Wilson came to the shipyard when he was 19 and never

left. Originally from South Carolina, his parents moved to Virginia when he was still a boy. His father worked at the shipyard for 34 years and his brother for 34 years as well. But Wilson will pass their longevity marks when he reaches his 35th year in September. And at 52 years old, he’s planning to add more to those years of service.

Wilson is a power test electrician specialist in the Electrical division, a department where he has spent the better part of his career. “We do a little of everything,” he said of his job. From working on temporary lighting to pulling out or

Photo by Ricky Thompson

installing cable, fixing anything electrical that might break down, as well as testing and trouble shooting are among some of Wilson’s jobs. He does refueling work as well.

“Whatever they need us to do,” said Wilson.

Most recently Wilson’s work has had him on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt near Pier 3. But his experience is broad when it comes to ships. “I worked on the gas tankers, roll-on-roll-off ships, carriers, submarines, back to carriers and even frigates,” he said. “But I’ve been on carriers the longest.”

Wilson is proud to say he’s had a hand in all of the carriers built at the yard, from the keel up, during refuelings and from the dry dock to the pier. The only thing Wilson hasn’t done is go on a sea trial. “Before I retire I would like to do that,” he said.

In the meantime, Wilson, the most senior member of his eight-man crew, is happy with his night-shift existence and the close friends he works with. “This is where I’ve been and I love it.”

Ingenuity Improves Life for Welders Welding Equipment Supervisor David Roane knows that life as a welder at Newport News Shipbuilding can be extremely challenging. “I see those guys out in the cold and the heat, crawling on their hands and knees, in and out of small spaces, holding a torch all day,” he said.

very narrow but very long space. “The equipment could go where the welders couldn’t,” Sporbert said. “I’ve worked with David since 1978. When you come to him with a problem, he sees it as a challenge and wants to shine on it.”

That’s why Roane has devoted much of his shipyard career to finding ways to make their jobs easier, from ensuring their equipment stays in tip-top shape to mechanizing welding processes and removing the torch from the welder’s hand.

Roane said, “If I can make something that makes that guy’s job easier, that’s a big positive step for him and for me. There’s nothing better than to see a man having an issue doing a job by hand, and you give him something that makes a difference.”

Currently, Roane is developing a machine that will help weld tens of thousands of clips used to level decks on aircraft carriers, said General Foreman Mike Miller.

“Right now, it’s all done by hand and is very labor intensive,” he said. Miller is confident Roane will come up with the perfect solution. “He’s very creative and innovative. He’s good at what he does and we depend on him a lot.”

Roane is adamant that his ideas aren’t just his own. His crew and the welders themselves all play a part. “The welders on my crew come to me with a problem or idea.

That turns on a light and we all get together,” he said.

“Then we take something that didn’t exist and we bring it into existence.”

Roane’s General Foreman George Sporbert said, “He’s got a tremendous knowledge of the equipment. And, we have an ability to adapt equipment to find cost savings and make life easier for the welders.” For example, Roane found a way to modify a piece of welding equipment and place it on a track so that it could run a bead weld along a

Welding Equipment Supervisor David Roane continually works on new ideas to improve welding equipment. Photo by John Whalen

a t a t i K e On

Time

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

When it comes to building nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines, the old adage applies well. The process of building the largest and most advanced military warships in the world can be overwhelming and complex.

Nowhere can this complexity be as clearly visualized as in the Kitting Warehouse in Building 23, one of the oldest buildings in the shipyard.

“We touch every part of the process here,” said Gena Moore, the Kitting Warehouse supervisor. “We receive all the sheet metal kitted items and ship all final manufactured product to warehouses or in some cases straight to the ship.” Kitting describes the process of assembling various materials into a package that another department needs. Materials flow into the building to be “kitted” and sent to the shops and subcontractors that assemble and install the parts. A kit could be screws for cabinets or a 3,500-pound kit for a ship’s hull. The department’s efficiency directly affects the shipbuilding process, and, not long ago, the process was in need of being streamlined.

“Six years ago, people used to just walk in with handwritten documents requesting a kit on the spot,” said Broderick Kea, material distribution clerk. “There were issues with accuracy on both the requesting end and in the kitting process that had to be worked through.” Another challenge was the organization of the old warehouse, which formerly housed the Sheet Metal Fabrication shop and was not designed as a distribution warehouse. It was difficult to find things quickly.

That was the Kitting Warehouse six years ago. Now, a dispatch list tracks the flow of materials, and the warehouse utilizes vertical storage with new metal shelving and large, brightly colored labels. For several years the department held monthly meetings with other

departments to discuss quality control issues, meetings which are now deemed almost redundant due to the accuracy rate of the kitting process. In July, the team undertook a project to improve the sheet metal material flow, resulting in a 62 percent faster kitting time and new average of about 600 kits delivered monthly for sheet metal kits alone.

You can see the ripple effect. “The Sheet Metal Fabrication Shop used to primarily be a one-shift operation,” said George Boone, manager of material distribution.

“They now operate three full shifts because our department is able to keep up with their production.”

“Last year, our production increased 30 percent, and part of that is due to their efforts,” said Matt Needy, director of Component Fabrication and Assembly. About half of the Kitting Warehouse’s output goes to his shops. “As we start delivering two submarines a year, we will be ramping up production even more.

Our success is directly tied to their continued improvements.”

So, how do you eat an elephant? One kit at a time.

Broderick Kea catalogues materials for a kit in the reorganized Kitting Warehouse. Kitting times have improved 62 percent since July 2011. Photo by John Whalen

Following in Tradition

In the spring of 2011, Apprentices Christopher Perry, Tamera Crosby, Timothy Owens and Zachary Hudgins embarked on a journey that would lead to a timeless work of art. The four patternmaker apprentices would construct a full-scale, hand-carved replica of the original eagle perched on top of the pilot house of the first tugboat Huntington.

The original tugboat and eagle were both built solely by Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) apprentices in 1933.

Homer L. Ferguson, former NNS president, saw the project as a practical way to train apprentices and keep them employed during lean economic times.

“Last year, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Maryland restored Huntington’s original pilot house,” said Brent Rollins, apprentice instructor. “At that time, the Apprentice Alumni Association requested that The Apprentice School allow patternmaker apprentices to repeat history by building a replica eagle for the museum.”

Christopher Perry had only been an apprentice for three months when he learned he would be working on the replica. “I was both nervous and excited at the same time,” Perry said. “I had never been involved in an extensive woodworking project, much less a high-profile piece that would eventually be housed in a museum for others to see for years to come.”

“We started out with five separate blocks of wood and used a two-part epoxy to glue the pieces together,” Zachary Hudgins said. “Once the pieces were together, we began carving.”

“We were each responsible for a different section of the replica,” added Timothy Owens. “Even though a majority of the time was spent working individually, the project taught us patience and teamwork because we all had to depend on each other to complete the project.”

“The most challenging part of the project was realizing that there was no room for error,” said Tamera Crosby.

“Overall, the project was a great learning experience and has proved to be extremely rewarding. I’m glad I was able to take part in building this replica and I hope to be able to go see it with my family when it is at the museum.”

The replica eagle will be on view until spring on the sixth floor of Building 520. Then the eagle will be transported to its permanent home at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Maryland.

Apprentice Pattern Makers Tamera Crosby and Zachary Hudgins (cover photo) put the final touches on the hand-carved, full-scale replica of the eagle that was perched on the first Huntington tugboat. Photo by John Whalen

Striving

for

Perfection Shipbuilders on the Non-Nuclear Inspection team were extremely excited at the end of last year, as news quickly spread that the department had reduced their accident rate by 75 percent in 2011.

The department of 140 employees had 11 reported accidents in 2010. That number wasn’t satisfying to Non-Nuclear Inspection Supervisor Mike Mulgar.

“Our environment places us at risk levels where the consequence of a single misstep has the potential for serious injury or even fatality,” Mulgar said. “We care about ourselves, our teammates and our fellow shipbuilders too much not to make personal safety the highest priority of the day.”

The department is responsible for inspecting paint and coating applications in tanks and on all critical coated

areas on submarines and aircraft carriers at Newport News Shipbuilding. The work involves a tremendous amount of physical labor such as crawling and climbing up and down stairs.

“The 11 accidents left our department in pretty bad physical shape,” said Bill West, Non-Nuclear Inspection manager. “I contacted HealthWaves to see what could be done to prevent hurt backs, twisted knees and other work-related injuries, especially related to body motion since that was our biggest driver in 2010,” said West.

“After several discussions, we agreed that the best option would be for HealthWaves to come down to the yard to facilitate classes.”

“The first class was designed specifically for the NonNuclear Inspection team,” said HealthWaves Waterfront Manager Terry Holbert. “We demonstrated various stretches that could be used prior to crawling into tanks or climbing ladders.”

classes. “Aside from the classes at work, I worked with HealthWaves after work to come up with a plan for me to lose weight,” he said. “I started paying closer attention to the type of food I was eating and began to exercise more.”

West recalls, “After the class, I received overwhelmingly good feedback from the department. Therefore, we decided to incorporate stretching into our ‘Take Five’ morning routine as well as hold additional classes with HealthWaves on nutrition, a bone density check and a health screening for all the employees.”

Watt says he also noticed that even the smallest changes in a lifestyle can make a big difference. “As I began to shed the pounds, I felt more confident in myself and have been able to perform better in my job. I’m not as winded climbing up and down ladders and I have a lot more energy,” he said.

With additional attention focused on health and safety, the team’s accidents dropped to an all time low.

Shipbuilders in the department began losing weight, lowering their blood pressure and getting their diabetes under control.

“Reducing accidents by 75 percent is a huge accomplishment for our department,” West added. “We hope to continue stretching and focusing on safety so that we can be accident-free in 2012.”

Electrical Inspector Kevin Watt lost 40 pounds due in large part to what he learned from the HealthWaves

Shipbuilders (L-R) Kevin Watt, Beverly Jones, E.F. Griffin and Ray Williams perform stretching exercises to prevent accidents and injuries. Photo by Ricky Thompson

Celebrating a Rich Heritage

In honor and recognition of Black History Month, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) reflects on the extraordinary heritage and contributions of African Americans.

Since the shipyard’s founding in 1886, African American shipbuilders have played a significant part in every Newport News ship built and have always constituted a significant part of the workforce. In 1902, almost twothirds of the 5,000 shipyard employees were black.

Today, more than one-third of NNS’ employees are African American men and women. From welders to engineers, shipfitters to financial analysts, their achievements are visible throughout the company. From the shipbuilding trades to the highest levels of leadership, including the boardroom of Huntington Ingalls Industries, African Americans are carrying on the legacy of proud dedication to the company’s mission: “always good ships.”

Shipbuilders in the Angle Shop in 1903. Photo from NNS Archives

Long Service MASTER SHIPBUILDERS

december

Edward Belvin 45 years

David Bremby 40 years

William Brown 40 years

Kenneth King 40 years

Jesse Byrd 40 years

Mason Green 40 years

Eric Joyner 40 years

Kermit Pinkard 40 years

Joe Bye 40 years

James Mitchell 40 years

Tim Moody 40 years

James Paul 40 years

Alphonso Richardson 40 years

James Rodgers 40 years

Vincent Sinclair 55 years

Dan Smith 40 years

Martha Stevens 40 years

Doug Stitzel 45 years

Samuel Thomas 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 MASTER SHIPBUILDERS

january

John Adams 40 years

Barbara Banton 40 years

Daniel Cartwright 40 years

William Craig 40 years

Robert Fitzgerald 40 years

Otis Gallett 40 years

Edsel Hall 50 years

Tom Gilliam 40 years

Doug Gregory 40 years

Richard Haller 40 years

Dennis Honeycutt 45 years

Walter Jennings 40 years

Michelle Major 40 years

Roy McCullen 45 years

Calvin Moore 45 years

Sandra Nicholson 40 years

John Pace 40 years

Melvin Parker 45 years

Henry Rice 40 years

Roosevelt Spence 40 years

Gary Turner 40 years

Benford Williams 40 years

Long Service december 55 Years Vincent H. Sinclair O43 45 years Edward C. Belvin X11 Doug Stitzel O11 40 years Robert L. Barefield O46

David E. Bremby X43 William A. Brown X32 Joe F. Bye O43 Jesse J. Byrd O43 William K. Campbell X31 Josandra M. Eason O58 Mason Green X67 Walter J. Jones X33 Eric T. Joyner O48

Kenneth A. King X18 James C. Mitchell X11 Timothy G. Moody O39 James A. Paul X36 Kermit L. Pinkard O43 Alphonso Richardson X42 James Rodgers X42 Daniel R. Smith X75 Robert D. Smith M30

Martha A. Stevens O67 Phillip H. Thomas O53 Samuel L. Thomas Jr. X36 35 Years James W. Evans X18 Carey A. Fisher O67 Kenneth S. Lewis O54 Alonza M. Martin X36

Philiton L. Moore X18 Bobby C. Saylor X36 Richard N. Sides X10 Randy M. Tyler X18

Charles R. Martin E82 Maxwell G. Redcross III E25 Debbie J. Williams O95

30 Years Kevin R. Campbell O40 Patrick J. Howard E86 Mark A. Majernik E81

january 50 Years Edsel A. Hall X10 45 Years Dennis B. Honeycutt X88 Roy D. McCullen X36 Calvin Moore X36 Melvin C. Parker X36 McKinley Simmons K78

Michelle Major O95 Sandra D. Nicholson E18 John E. Pace O58 Henry B. Rice Jr. X42 Roosevelt Spence X42 Harold R. Thomas X67 Gary R. Turner O53 Benford D. Williams X32 Rudolph V. Wilson Jr. O51

40 Years John M. Adams E63 John P. Anderson Jr. X71 Barbara H. Banton T51 Larry C. Brenner X31 Daniel W. Cartwright O53 William E. Craig X18 William J. Donohue O58 Robert W. Fitzgerald O57 Otis A. Gallett X36 Thomas E. Gilliam X18 Douglas E. Gregory O39 Richard D. Haller O43 Walter G. Jennings X18

35 Years Jerome Anderson O43 Donald L. Anderson Jr. X75 Horace Baker Jr. X67 Frank C. Barr X89 Gary A. Bates X32 Tommy C. Benton O43 Henry Biggs Jr. X33 Larry Binns X31 Robert M. Blount X42 Rebecca A Boyd X11 Quinton C. Branch O43 Shirley T. Burgess O53 Joe A. Butler Jr. X11

Joshua Carter Jr. X18 Wilbert B. Chavis Jr. X33 Phillip C. Church X18 John A. Clifton X11 Janice Z. Coggin O43 Linwood M. Collins X15 Charles Cook O46 Ellen R. Council-Powell X36 Walter S. Davis E25 Curtis Debraux X18 William H. Demary O43 Elvis L. Dildy X11 Marvin B. Dingle X18 David P. Ennis X67 Donnie R. Faulkner O48 Michael V. Frary X87 Stanley R. Gwaltney X36 Christopher L. Harris X11 Cynthia S. Herbin X36 Michael E. Hickey O87 Patrick D. Higgins Jr. X32 Paul H. Holland X18 Redgie J. Holloman X11 Albert H. Holloman Jr. X11

Floyd M. Houston Jr. X18 Timothy A. Jackson X33 Cassandra B. Joe O43 Dwight D. Jones X36 John H. Justice X18 James E. Lake X36 James W. Lane K78 Vivian L. Lee X33 Michael E. Luck M71 Jeanita A. Mallers X32 David W. Martin O43 Donald A. McLain X42 Roberta R. Mebane O77 Clifton D. Moore X11 Alton L. Morgan X18 Michael J. Mulcahy M40 Lettie Murphy X33 William A. Oss E82 Herbert W. Outlaw X32 Joseph A. Paquette Jr. O43 Glaston C. Parker Jr. X11 Robert A. Prince O64 Charles E. Ransom X10 Gary W. Rothwell X33

James E. Ruff X36 Katrina G. Ruffin O46 Ernest K. Saunders X42 David S. Schmidt O46 David L. Simmons X87 David B. Sykes Jr. X11 Bernard L. Van Arsdale O24 Weldon L. Warren Sr. X15 30 Years Donald J. Allen E89 Janet B. Barker N314 Daniel M. Barrett E84 Robert H. Burnett E25 Michael D. Clements X43 William J. Connolly E70 Donald A. Crowley E56 Chris L. Gibson X75 Ralph L. Gibson Jr. X58 James M. Gross O31 Eric I. Jordan E83 Joseph T. Kramer O38 Kevin L. La Fountain E10 Darrell R. Lakin E83

Scott A. McInnis N260 David C. Messina E82 Thomas A. Middleton E83 Jerry N. Newcomb T52 Alvin C. Norman O74 Cheryl L. Ogle E24 Tony Penza E17 Philip Poulos E18 Bruce L. Vardaro X70 Valerie J. Ward E25 Michael K. Wilson X71 25 years Michael B. Clark E51 Christopher M. Howell X88 20 Years Brian J. Brenton E25 David S. Ellis E56

Retirements november Faulcon Alston E85 John W. Campbell X42 Carolyn S. Campbell E38

William A. Garrett Jr. E85 Alan G. Graham X43 Daniel H. Hargrave X11

Donald E. Jackson X33 Herman Nimmo O54 Zackary N. Rogers O14

Paul G. Spencer Jr. O53 Theresa L. Stanford X31 John N. Starmer X11

James K. Treece O15 William A. Vose O31 Garry W. Wilkins X11

Charles G. Woodard X42

december Earl G. Baldwin O26 William C. Bateman X31 Eddie Bonds X11 Jeanette A. Campbell O77 William K. Campbell X31 Stephen C. Christie E34

John A. Curtin E83 Alvin R. Ely X36 Jacquelyn B. Evans O14 Virginia E. Freeman X32 Thomas J. Green X43 Kenneth H. Hester O39

Mack Lassiter Jr. X36 Edgar I. Maxwell M20 Lana F. McLeod O20 Joyce R. Miller E82 James E. Moses X31 Catherine W. Nicholson X54

Clarence Peoples O54 Ivan D. Porter X33 John R. Pugh T54 Jerry B. Richardson X31 Christian D. Rilee X85 David G. Roselius E83

Charles T. Smith E48 Andrew R. Taylor II O67 Fannie M. Tillery X32 Larry W. Trent X70 Raymond C. Watson Jr. X89 Alma A. Williams X33

Alexander Williams X18

Making aA Season Difference: of Giving From granting wishes to filling pantry food shelves, Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) employees opened their hearts and wallets this past holiday season for a variety of charitable organizations.

The season kicked off with shipbuilders donating more than $13,000 and 28,000 pounds of non-perishable food to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank. Donations were raised through a number of competitive challenges including the Nuclear Overhaul Engineering team’s “Annual Spam Trophy” Contest, which collected 10,161 pounds of food. Nuclear Construction Engineering held a “Stuff the Director’s Office” contest, which collected more than 4,400 food items. Employees building the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) were encouraged to donate “Four for Ford.” The CVN 78

shipbuilders doubled their goal for a total donation equivalent to more than 15,000 food cans.

Shipbuilders also donated their time to the food bank. Plant Engineering shipbuilders combined team building with volunteerism to assemble 220 backpack bags filled with take-home meals and nutritious snacks for elementary school children.

The Legal Department and hourly employees in the NNS Night School’s Fall Business Writing Class donated food and gifts to the City of Newport News Department of Human Services to benefit local children and families.

Partnering with the Salvation Army also topped the list for Christmas giving. SHIPs network, an employee resource group, sponsored 20 children through their Annual

Christmas Angel Tree Program.

And for the seventh consecutive year, the Security and Emergency Services team also partnered with the Salvation Army. Toys, clothing, household items and gift cards were purchased for three families.

Topping off the year, shipbuilders also donated $1.6 million to the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula.

Shipbuilders who donated were able to direct their contributions to the organizations of their choice, including the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Peninsula, the YWCA of the Virginia Peninsula and USO of Hampton Roads. NNS is the largest single contributor to the campaign.

John Fleming Jr. and Kathy Detmer sample soups at the Training Services’ Annual Soup Contest to benefit the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. Photo

by Chris Oxley

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January/February 2012 Looking to save money? Now, there’s no reason to wait for an advertised sale to get special deals on a wide variety of product and lifestyle services from national and local retailers. The HII Employee Discount Program provides employees a convenient way to shop 24/7 for cars, furniture, computers, cell phone plans, vacation packages and much much more.

From any home computer, employees can search for discounts available from premium brands such as Toyota, Apple, Barnes & Noble and Restaurant.com. Locally, employees will find discount offers from hundreds of Hampton Roads-area businesses.

Look for discounts at huntingtoningalls.com/discounts. Enter HII for the Company ID.

Go Builders!

The Apprentice School men’s basketball team is ranked in the top three of the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Coaches Top 20 Poll and the Lady Builders are ranked second in the equivalent women’s poll throughout the season. Learn more about builder sports at www.gobuilders.com. Photo by Ricky Thompson.