October 17, 2016
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Oct. 17, 2016) – Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) announced today that 20 employees from the company’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions were recognized for achievements in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) during the 21st annual Women of Color STEM Conference.
Huntington Ingalls Industries was among the corporate sponsors that supported this year’s event, which was held Oct. 13-15 in Detroit.
Vannia Willis, an 18-year engineering veteran at Newport News, was presented a Community Service Award, which recognizes women of color who use technology in novel ways to improve access to STEM jobs and educational opportunities. Among her many activities to encourage youth participation in STEM, Willis helped start the first Lego Mind Storm Robotics Program in southeast Washington and developed a tutoring program for middle and high school students at a local church. She also organized a program that challenged students’ logic and strategic capabilities as part of Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA), and she serves as technology lead for First Robotics and Newport News’ Girls Engineer Minds in Shipbuilding (GEMS) program. She has also been lead coordinator for the Women of Color and BEYA K-12 STEM workshops since 2009.
Four HII employees received Technology All Star awards, which recognize accomplished women of color from mid-level to advanced stages of their careers who have demonstrated excellence in the workplace and in their communities. They are:
Paulette Harris, designer, Newport News
Samaria Hunter, computer systems security manager, Newport News
Mary McDermott, engineering manager, Newport News
Gwen Wilkerson, material requisitioning director, Ingalls
Fifteen HII employees received Technology Rising Star awards that recognize young women who are helping to shape future technology. They are:
Ambre Cauley, project manager, Ingalls
Ladrena Ford, financial analyst, Ingalls
Jimmie Gerrish, material handling supervisor, Ingalls
Travia Holder, software development analyst, Ingalls
Leah Kimble, procurement planning representative, Ingalls
Marie Lawson, electrical engineer, Newport News
Kristal Mayfield, material planner, Ingalls
Molly McLellan, industrial engineer, Ingalls
Donna Melton, production planning manager, Ingalls
Alexis Moore, financial analyst, Ingalls
Michelle Pope, electrical designer, Newport News
Shinaca Reed, hull foreman, Ingalls
Damayra Rosado-Amaro, project manager, Ingalls
Brenda Straight, administration generalist, Ingalls
Davida Warren, cyber security analyst, Newport News
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong.
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