Shipbuilders gathered in the PCU Building (Bldg. 4931) on Friday, Sept. 11, to hear updates on Newport News Shipbuilding’s 2026 goals and initiatives directly from senior leadership.
Lucas Hicks, vice president of Operations, delivered the presentation and gave shipbuilders the opportunity to ask questions directly to the leadership team.
“About two weeks before 9/11, the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) carrier battle group left the Mediterranean Sea,” Hicks said. “It was the first time in many years that there was not a forward-deployed aircraft carrier presence in the Mediterranean. Why did we leave? Because the Navy was out of aircraft carriers and Enterprise was needed elsewhere. Our carriers display the might of our country, so it is critical that we meet our goals to the Navy.”
Mechanical Engineer Jonathan Guthrie (E35) said that this was the second session he’s attended and emphasized the importance of attending opportunities to hear from NNS leadership.
“It’s an opportunity for our leadership to make their commitment to the deck plate true,” he said. “As someone who no longer works on the deck plate, it’s important to come into the shipyard and support those values and direction of the company. Every shipbuilder is required to have a set of PPE, so let’s use it.”
Registration for October’s Peer to Pier session will be announced in an upcoming edition of Currents.
