Shipbuilders,

Today, I have very serious and disappointing news to share with you. We recently discovered that the quality of certain welds on submarines and aircraft carriers under construction here at NNS do not meet our high-quality standards. Most concerning is that some of the welds in question were made by welders who knowingly violated weld procedures.

Fortunately, this issue was brought to light by shipbuilders who did the right thing and came forward by either self-reporting or calling the HII OpenLine. I thank them for their honesty and bravery.

We have to remember our nation depends on us to deliver the highest quality ships, as do the moms, dads, spouses and children of our Navy sailors who live aboard them. Let me be clear: we do not tolerate any conduct that compromises our company’s values and our mission of delivering ships that safeguard our nation and its sailors.

Once our investigation confirmed the validity of these reports, we immediately put together a team made up of both internal and independent engineering and quality subject matter experts to determine the root causes, bound the issue and put in place immediate short-term corrective actions as we work through longer-term solutions. We also notified the Department of Justice, our shipbuilding partner, Navy customer, and regulators, and are providing them with regular updates to ensure transparency and alignment.

I cannot over stress that individual actions and behaviors either strengthen – or weaken – our ethical culture in an instant. Every choice you make as a shipbuilder has long lasting impact. Ask for help when you are unsure. And speak up if you see questionable behavior or actions by others. Speak to your supervisor or report it, 24/7, through the HII OpenLine by calling 1-877-631-0020.

Our company was founded 138 years ago on the promise of quality – of always accomplishing our work the right way. This is our legacy to protect.

We will fix this. We will learn from it. We will come back stronger.

Respectfully,
Jennifer Boykin
President, Newport News Shipbuilding