Huntington Ingalls Industries announced the board of directors elected Kari Wilkinson to take over as president at the Newport News Shipyard. Wilkinson comes from the company’s Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi.
"Leading shipbuilders in the critical work we do for the nation has been and will continue to be the greatest honor of my life,” Wilkinson said. “I join the Newport News team with deep respect for its nuclear culture, commitment to safety, and an exceptional legacy further strengthened by (current president) Jennifer (Boylin) and the NNS team. I am fully committed to advancing our mission in support of our sailors, their families, and for all of us who depend on them for freedom and security.”
She takes over from Jennifer Boykin, who announced she is retiring after 37 years with the shipbuilder. Boykin had been president at Newport News since 2017.
“I have asked Jennifer to stay on in an advisory capacity through March to support a seamless transition to Kari,” said Chris Kastner, HII CEO and president. “You will not find a more loyal advocate than Jennifer for her shipbuilders and the Hampton Roads community. Kari’s leadership has steered Ingalls Shipbuilding into its next phase of growth, having secured serial production contracts for both the destroyer and amphibious ship programs. She is a tremendous leader and now brings her great energy and expertise to Newport News.”
The two announcements came a week after a disappointing third quarter earnings call, where the company downsized earning expectations for the year. The company cited unresolved issues with its Navy contracts as well as problems with welds aboard several vessels, which has led to a Navy investigation.
Congress has also called out the company for being chronically behind schedule in producing new ships and finishing major overhauls of the Navy’s nuclear fleet on time. A recent report by the Congressional Research Service blamed supply chain issues and a lack of skilled shipbuilders coming out of the pandemic.
Newport News is the only shipyard able to produce U.S aircraft carriers. Along with General Dynamics Electric Boat, the shipyard is one of two facilities that produce Virginia-class and Columbia-class nuclear submarines.
