HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Celebrates Appren tice Graduates

Rhea-AI Summary

HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division celebrates 99 apprentice graduates in a ceremony, emphasizing the importance of workforce development. The program has a competitive enrollment, with 700 students currently enrolled, the highest since before the pandemic. Russel Sand Jr. receives the 2023 Overall Apprentice of the Year Award for excellence in his craft.

PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuildin g division hosted their apprentice graduation today, celebrating 99 graduates during a ceremony at the shipyard. Each of these apprentice graduates have invested time in the cla ssroom and shipyard to prepare them for a shipbuilding career with the company.

Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, addressed the graduates providin g words of encouragement for these new first-class shipbuilders.

“Each of our graduates has a role to play and an important job to get done on behalf of millions of Amer icans,” Wilkinson said. “Together they form an elite and special team to do the work of the nation.”

Enrollment for the apprentice program is competitive, and students w ork full-time while learning a craft through classes and on-the-job training. The prestigious workforce development program has produced more than 4,000 graduates since its ince ption in 1952 and currently has 700 students enrolled in the program, the highest enrollment since prior to the pandemic.

Russel Sand Jr. received the 2023 Overall Appre ntice of the Year Award, which recognizes the apprentice who has set a standard of excellence among their peers and has performed at the top of their class continuously.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-ingalls-shipbuilding-celebrates-apprentice-school-graduates-2024/.

Sand has been with the company for four years and is currentl y a transportation rigger. When asked where his motivation came from to complete the four-year program, Sand said, “My fellow rigging apprentices were some of the best motivator s, we all encouraged each other as we went through classes and rotated through crafts.”

While in the apprentice program Sand learned about the various aspects of shipbui lding and gained a greater purpose for the work he does saying, “In a four-year span I have seen ships go from the keel to delivery, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Our purpose is to build some of the finest warships in the world, and I am proud of my decision to become an Ingalls shipbuilder.”

The apprentice program offers a compre hensive three- to four-year curriculum with 15 registered Department of Labor apprentice programs for students to pursue. Apprentices earn competitive wages and receive a compre hensive benefit package upon entering the program. This allows apprentices to receive an education, build work ethic, gain experience and develop into world-class journeymen of their crafts.
For more information about Ingalls Shipbuilding’s apprentice school visit https://hii.com/careers/ingalls-apprentice-school/.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver t he 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 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
• HII on Instagram: htt ps://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Kimberly K. Aguillard
228-355-5663
Kimberly.K.Aguillar d@hii-co.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b71d1865-f6ee-4978-a11a-ffcd 8737cc28

FAQ

How many apprentice graduates did HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division celebrate?

HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division celebrated 99 apprentice graduates.

What is the enrollment status of the apprentice program at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division?

The program currently has 700 students enrolled, the highest since before the pandemic.

Who received the 2023 Overall Apprentice of the Year Award at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division?

Russel Sand Jr. received the 2023 Overall Apprentice of the Year Award.

How long has the apprentice program been running at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division?

The apprentice program has been running since its inception in 1952.

What is the role of Kari Wilkinson at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division?

Kari Wilkinson is the president of Ingalls Shipbuilding.