Photo caption: Quartermaster 3rd Class Miguel Orozco Torres stows flags after change-of-command ceremony aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Sept. 28, 2026. Nimitz is currently homeported in Naval Station Norfolk as a part of Carrier Strike Group 8. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alyssa J. Boling)
Oct. 9, 2026
HII’s Weekly News Digest is compiled every Friday by the Corporate Communications team to summarize and highlight news stories of significance to the company.
US Navy Commissions Ingalls-Built USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128): WLOX reported on Saturday that the U.S. Navy commissioned USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) during a ceremony in Whittier, Alaska. The Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer was built by HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division and delivered to the Navy in December 2025. The ship includes the Flight III AN/SPY‑6(V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, which are designed to defend against modern threats. KTOO reported on Wednesday that USS Ted Stevens has since moved to Juneau, Alaska, where the Navy is offering public tours. The destroyer — named for the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska — will eventually be based in Norfolk, Virginia.
Anduril Announces Baltimore-Based Shipyard: The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the U.S. government will invest $2.9 billion in a shipyard being built by Anduril Industries in Sparrows Point, Maryland. In return, taxpayers will receive a 40% ownership stake in the facility that will build autonomous submarines, torpedo tubes, and critical components for Virginia‑class attack submarines, once it comes online in 2030. Those completed Virginia-class submarine components will then be shipped to HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and General Dynamics Electric Boat so they can be incorporated into the boats. Anduril will invest $3.7 billion in the 2 million-square-foot facility, nicknamed Arsenal-2. Anduril’s Arsenal-1 production facility is located just south of Columbus, Ohio where the company builds autonomous systems and defense technologies. Defense Scoop reported on Tuesday that Anduril will use its ArsenalOS software to connect fabrication workflows, material movement, inspections and documentation into a system that provides real‑time visibility into production at Arsenal-2.
Vought Confident In Defense Reconciliation Request Support: Inside Defense reported on Saturday that White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is confident congressional Republicans will secure enough support to fund all or most of the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion fiscal 2027 defense request when lawmakers return for a lame‑duck session after the November midterm elections. The request includes $1.15 trillion in discretionary spending through the normal appropriations process and another $350 billion through a budget reconciliation measure. That package contains several top Pentagon priorities, including the Golden Dome missile‑defense system, drone procurement and funding to replenish depleted stocks of critical munitions. However, the narrow Republican majority in Congress has struggled to unify around the full request.
General Dynamics Names New CEO: Virginia Business reported on Wednesday that General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic will become executive chairman on Jan. 1, 2027, while President Danny Deep will take over as CEO. Deep has been with the company for 25 years and became president in 2025 after serving in several senior leadership roles, including executive vice president of global operations and combat systems and president of land systems. Novakovic has served as CEO since 2013. GovCon Wire reported on Wednesday that Nick Barnaby, appointed senior vice president and general counsel in July 2026, will assume his role on the same day Deep becomes CEO.
| Social Media Highlight Of The Week
Posted Oct. 7, 2026 to Mission Technologies’ LinkedIn page:
“Celebrating the people making an impact.🏆 We recently came together for the fourth annual Mission Technologies, a division of HII Impact Awards, recognizing employees whose work, leadership and commitment make a difference across our business and the missions we support. This year’s honorees represent the innovation, collaboration and dedication our teams bring to their work every day. Congratulations to all of our 2026 Impact Award recipients, and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s celebration possible! #ThisIsMyHII” |
Hegseth Greets Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Crew After 10-Month Deployment: The New York Post reported on Wednesday that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth greeted the crew of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the carrier prepared to return to San Diego after more than 300 days at sea. Hegseth praised the crew for enduring hardship and completing demanding missions against Iran. The New York Times reported Thursday that Hegseth awarded the ship’s 5,000‑member crew the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy’s highest unit award for valor. During its deployment, Lincoln spent a record 265 consecutive days at sea while supporting Operation Epic Fury. To date, five aircraft carriers have participated in the conflict with Iran, including USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), which deployed for 327 days, and Lincoln, whose deployment lasted 322 days.
HII’s Weekly News Digest is produced by HII’s Corporate Communications team and posted to MyHII every Friday.
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