When Dillon Cole first heard about Ingalls Shipbuilder Academy, he was a high school student who enjoyed working with metal in welding class. Fast forward just two years and he’s now a pipe welder helping build some of the most advanced ships in the U.S. fleet.  

“I was a junior in a welding class and my instructor asked if I wanted to go to Ingalls and weld there,” recalled Dillon. “I didn’t know anything about pipe. I was thinking plate or structural welding. He told me there was a program he could get me into, and you’re guaranteed a job right out of school.”  

For a student eager to start a career, that promise set everything in motion. 

Once enrolled, Dillon discovered just how much goes into building a U.S. Navy ship.  

“First, they taught us how to locate where we are on the boat—aft, forward, stern, all that,” Dillon explained.  

The first semester introduced students to blueprint reading, shipyard layout and the classes of ships built at Ingalls. The second half allowed them to explore each craft area in more detail. 

“We got a good foundation,” Dillon said. “Every time we went to a new craft, we had a whole new set of safety rules.” 

That foundation helped Dillon stand out early. At the end of 11th grade, he competed in Project MFG—a two-hour welding challenge that tested students from 19 high schools—and placed second.  

By the time he accepted his job offer at Ingalls Signing Day, he was already proving he could perform under pressure. 

He still remembers one of his proudest moments as a new shipbuilder.  

“When I passed my stick test and then moved on to TIG, I passed all the TIG tests on the first try,” he said. “It was really challenging for everybody, and I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I was really proud of that.” 

Today, Dillon works in the shops but recently had the chance to step onto a finished ship for the first time, a moment that connected his daily work to the larger mission. 

“It was nothing like the units I work on,” he said. “A lot tighter, cramped, not as open, everything is just tight. But I was able to see a weld I made on one of that ship’s units and that was really cool.” 

Dillon credits his crew with helping him grow quickly.  

“The crew I’m on is a really good one,” he said. “I thought I was a good welder, then I got here and realized I wasn’t as good as I thought. It humbled me, but in a good way.” 

For students considering Ingalls Shipbuilder Academy, Dillon’s message is straightforward: “Ask questions, take the time to learn and let others know what you want to do. They will help get you where you want to be.” 

With a strong start behind him, he’s already thinking about his next step. “I want to get into the QA program here,” he said. 

For Dillon, Ingalls Shipbuilder Academy didn’t just open the door, it helped him establish a career and gave him the confidence to build toward it.