HII Names Kari Wilkinson to Lead Newport News Shipbuilding
HII announced key leadership changes effective January 1, 2025. Kari Wilkinson will become the 21st president of Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), succeeding retiring Jennifer Boykin. Wilkinson, currently president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, will oversee 26,000 shipbuilders at NNS who build nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Brian Blanchette will succeed Wilkinson as president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. Under Wilkinson's leadership, Ingalls secured a $9.6 billion contract for amphibious ships. Boykin will retire after 37 years, leaving a legacy of digital transformation and significant contract achievements, including the first two-ship aircraft carrier procurement in over 30 years.
HII ha annunciato importanti cambiamenti nella leadership con effetto dal 1 gennaio 2025. Kari Wilkinson diventerà il 21° presidente di Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), succedendo a Jennifer Boykin che andrà in pensione. La Wilkinson, attualmente presidente di Ingalls Shipbuilding, supervisionerà 26.000 costruttori navali presso NNS che costruiscono portaerei e sottomarini a propulsione nucleare. Brian Blanchette succederà alla Wilkinson come presidente di Ingalls Shipbuilding. Sotto la guida della Wilkinson, Ingalls ha ottenuto un contratto di 9,6 miliardi di dollari per navi anfibie. La Boykin andrà in pensione dopo 37 anni, lasciando un'eredità di trasformazione digitale e importanti risultati contrattuali, tra cui il primo acquisto di portaerei a due navi negli ultimi 30 anni.
HII anunció cambios clave en el liderazgo efectivos a partir del 1 de enero de 2025. Kari Wilkinson se convertirá en la 21ª presidenta de Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), sucediendo a la Jennifer Boykin que se jubilará. Wilkinson, que actualmente es presidenta de Ingalls Shipbuilding, supervisará a 26,000 astilleros en NNS que construyen portaaviones y submarinos propulsados por energía nuclear. Brian Blanchette sucederá a Wilkinson como presidente de Ingalls Shipbuilding. Bajo el liderazgo de Wilkinson, Ingalls aseguró un contrato de 9.6 mil millones de dólares para barcos anfibios. Boykin se retirará después de 37 años, dejando un legado de transformación digital y logros contractuales significativos, incluida la primera adquisición de portaaviones de dos naves en más de 30 años.
HII는 2025년 1월 1일부터 효력이 발생하는 주요 리더십 변화를 발표했습니다. Kari Wilkinson이 퇴직하는 Jennifer Boykin을 이어 Newport News Shipbuilding(NNS)의 제21대 사장이 될 것입니다. 현재 Ingalls Shipbuilding의 사장인 Wilkinson은 NNS에서 핵 추진 항공모함과 잠수함을 건조하는 26,000명의 조선공을 감독하게 됩니다. Brian Blanchette는 Ingalls Shipbuilding의 사장으로 Wilkinson을 이어받게 됩니다. Wilkinson의 리더십 아래, Ingalls는 수륙 양용 선박을 위한 96억 달러 계약을 체결했습니다. Boykin은 37년 간의 경력을 마치고 디지털 혁신과 중요한 계약 성과의 유산을 남기며 은퇴하게 됩니다. 이에는 30년 만에 처음으로 이루어진 두 척의 항공모함 구매가 포함됩니다.
HII a annoncé des changements clés dans la direction qui prendront effet le 1er janvier 2025. Kari Wilkinson deviendra la 21e présidente de Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), succédant à Jennifer Boykin qui prendra sa retraite. Wilkinson, actuellement présidente d'Ingalls Shipbuilding, supervisera 26 000 ouvriers navals chez NNS qui construisent des porte-avions et des sous-marins à propulsion nucléaire. Brian Blanchette succédera à Wilkinson en tant que président d'Ingalls Shipbuilding. Sous la direction de Wilkinson, Ingalls a sécurisé un contrat de 9,6 milliards de dollars pour des navires amphibies. Boykin prendra sa retraite après 37 ans, laissant un héritage de transformation numérique et d'importants succès contractuels, y compris le premier achat de porte-avions à deux navires en plus de 30 ans.
HII gab bedeutende Änderungen in der Führung bekannt, die am 1. Januar 2025 in Kraft treten. Kari Wilkinson wird die 21. Präsidentin von Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), und tritt damit die Nachfolge von Jennifer Boykin an, die in den Ruhestand geht. Wilkinson, die derzeit Präsidentin von Ingalls Shipbuilding ist, wird 26.000 Schiffbauer bei NNS beaufsichtigen, die nuklearbetriebenen Flugzeugträger und U-Boote bauen. Brian Blanchette wird Wilkinson als Präsident von Ingalls Shipbuilding nachfolgen. Unter Wilkinsons Leitung sicherte sich Ingalls einen Vertrag über 9,6 Milliarden Dollar für amphibische Schiffe. Boykin tritt nach 37 Jahren in den Ruhestand und hinterlässt ein Erbe der digitalen Transformation und bedeutender Vertragsleistungen, einschließlich des ersten Beschaffungsvorgangs für Flugzeugträger mit zwei Schiffen seit über 30 Jahren.
- Secured $9.6 billion multi-ship procurement contract for amphibious ships
- Achieved first two-ship aircraft carrier procurement in over 30 years
- Obtained largest shipbuilding contract in U.S. Navy history for Virginia-class submarines
- None.
Insights
Leadership transitions at HII's shipbuilding divisions represent a strategic realignment but minimal immediate market impact. The key highlight is Wilkinson's track record at Ingalls, where she secured
Boykin's departure after securing major contracts, including the historic two-carrier procurement and Virginia-class submarine deal, leaves HII in a strong position. The company's backlog and market position in military shipbuilding remain robust, with established production pipelines for both carriers and submarines.
Jennifer Boykin to Retire; Brian Blanchette to Lead Ingalls Shipbuilding
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII), the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Kari Wilkinson to serve as president of the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division, effective Jan. 1, 2025. She will succeed Jennifer Boykin, who is retiring from her position at year’s end after 37 years with the company.
The president of NNS, which is HII’s largest division, oversees more than 26,000 shipbuilders who design, build, and maintain the world’s most complex ships: nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines.
“I have asked Jennifer to stay on in an advisory capacity through March to support a seamless transition to Kari,” HII CEO and President Chris Kastner said. “You will not find a more loyal advocate than Jennifer for her shipbuilders and the Hampton Roads community. Kari’s leadership has steered Ingalls Shipbuilding into its next phase of growth, having secured serial production contracts for both the destroyer and amphibious ship programs. She is a tremendous leader and now brings her great energy and expertise to Newport News.”
Wilkinson becomes the 21st president of NNS, which was founded in 1886. She has served as president of HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division since 2021, where she has overseen the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault and surface combatant ship programs, and the division’s 11,000 shipbuilders. The two shipyards make HII the largest industrial employer in both Virginia and Mississippi.
Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-names-kari-wilkinson-to-lead-newport-news-shipbuilding/.
"Leading shipbuilders in the critical work we do for the nation has been and will continue to be the greatest honor of my life,” Wilkinson said. “I join the Newport News team with deep respect for its nuclear culture, commitment to safety, and an exceptional legacy further strengthened by Jennifer and the NNS team. I am fully committed to advancing our mission in support of our sailors, their families, and for all of us who depend on them for freedom and security.”
Under Wilkson’s leadership Ingalls Shipbuilding secured the recent
Elected to succeed Kari as executive vice president of HII and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, overseeing all programs and operations, is Brian Blanchette, who has served as vice president of quality and engineering at Ingalls since May 2021. Blanchette joined Ingalls in 1996 and has served in a range of roles including in technical and design engineering, program management and business development.
“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead Ingalls Shipbuilding and its dedicated shipbuilders,” Blanchette said. “Throughout my 28-year career at Ingalls, I’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from remarkable people at every level. My focus will be to build on my predecessors’ success, particularly Kari’s, and to carry forward our strong shipbuilding legacy and honor our commitment to our nation by delivering the quality ships our service members depend on.”
Jennifer Boykin will retire from HII having steered its largest division through a period of remarkable growth and change. Highlights of Boykin’s legacy include:
- Widely credited for leadership and continuous production through the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Led the transformation from digital design to digital construction first on Enterprise (CVN 80) and for the Columbia-class submarine program.
- Guided the company’s achievement of the first two-ship aircraft carrier procurement in over 30 years for Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81).
- Secured with our teaming partner the largest shipbuilding contract in U.S. Navy history for Virginia-class submarines.
- Known throughout Hampton Roads for her deep community engagement and commitment to diversity within the workforce and leadership team.
About HII
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. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
- HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
- HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
- HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII
Contact:
Danny Hernandez
Danny.J.Hernandez@hii-co.com
(202) 264-7143
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2371ce15-b4ee-4dec-97a7-2a5921688693
FAQ
Who is replacing Jennifer Boykin as president of Newport News Shipbuilding (HII)?
What major contract did HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding secure under Kari Wilkinson's leadership?
Who will become the new president of HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division?
