Cool, calm and collected is what comes to mind when describing Jamil Davis, welding foreman. Understanding the grind of the shipyard, he has a knack for building relationships, being relatable and leading every conversation with respect.
“I believe there’s a difference between having a boss and having a leader in a position,” said Jamil. “Bosses can dictate and order; leaders instruct and guide. I take pride in my leadership.”
Looking for ways to support his family, Jamil started his shipbuilding journey after being accepted into the apprenticeship program at Avondale. After graduating as a journeyman, he made his way to Pascagoula in 2013 to work at Ingalls.
Things were looking up for Jamil and his family until a challenge landed right at their doorstep.
“In 2017, my wife had a heart attack,” Jamil recalled. “So I had to step up and take care of her, the kids and the house until she was able to get back on her feet.”
With his wife recovering, Jamil took on a second job. Each day after his shift at Ingalls, he drove school buses for special needs children in the Pascagoula Gautier School District. During that time, his supervisor took notice of his hard work and gave him a new opportunity, which would end up teaching him a valuable lesson.
“Ironically, Alicia Davis [general foreman, Welding] saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to be a work leaderman,” said Jamil. “She understood what I was going through. As a work leaderman, when I got the opportunity to lead, I would pass along the things I learned from her.”
From there, Jamil continued to climb the ladder, working his way towards a foreman position. In his current role, his daily responsibilities include ensuring safety, meeting goals and encouraging his team to build top-quality vessels. One of the main ways he helps drive his team to success is by connecting with them as individuals, getting to know them as people first, then shipbuilders.
“As an icebreaker, I get to know and understand who I'm working with,” said Jamil. “Building a rapport with my team lets them know we are in this together.”
By asking questions to learn more about his team members, Jamil is able to better understand his crew's motivation for coming to work each day. It also ensures his team is comfortable talking with him when challenges arise.
“Everything we touch, it's like our signature,” said Jamil. “So if there’s a way I can take stress off of my team, then not only do they trust me, but now they’re in an environment where they can produce their best work.”
With his team consistently producing first-time quality in their work, Jamil has come full circle, modeling relationships with his crew like those that helped him throughout his shipbuilding career.
“I’m truly blessed to be in a position to help others,” said Jamil. “This is God’s plan and I’m enjoying the ride with my people in the yard.”
Our Forward Ambitions series is aimed at inspiring and motivating shipbuilders to pursue leadership opportunities at Ingalls. Through these feature stories, we showcase some of our amazing foremen – highlighting what they do, how they got to where they are, and what drives their connection to Ingalls’ mission and purpose.
Do you have what it takes to lead a team? Email Marla.Cooper@hii-ingalls.com for more information on becoming a foreman or visit www.HII.com/careers to see current openings.