HII Logo

September 25, 2019

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK ESPER VISITS NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING

NewsNews ReleaseNewport News Shipbuilding
Share:
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK ESPER VISITS NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Sept. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) announced today that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper visited the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). This was Esper’s first visit to the shipyard since he was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Defense in July.

Esper toured Ford to see the progress being made during the ship’s post-shakedown availability and to learn more about its weapons-handling innovations and increased warfighting capabilities.

“Our shipbuilders play a vital role in building our Navy’s future fleet,” said Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding. “We appreciate that Secretary Esper took the time to visit our operations and Ford to see first-hand how we are working with our Navy partners to redeliver the newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that will be the centerpiece of our nation’s security strategy for decades to come.”

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK ESPER VISITS NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING

About HII

HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.

With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong.

Related News

July 8, 2026

Media Advisory: HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding to Host Christening Ceremony For Destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131)

July 8, 2026

The U.S Navy’s Readiness Advantage: How HII Supports the Fleet Wherever it Sails

July 7, 2026

HII is Assessed “Awardable” in the U.S. Department of War CDAO Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace

Sign Up for Updates

Enter your email to receive news updates and insights.

By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from HII.