For half a century, pipe insulator Donald Ashford has walked through the gates of Ingalls Shipbuilding with the same purpose he carried as a young Army veteran in 1974: work hard, take pride in the craft and help build the ships that protect our nation.
Donald, whose friends at work call him Duck, began his journey in the shipyard at just 22 years old after leaving the U.S. Army.
“I had never worked in a shipyard before,” he recalled. “I started working on submarines over on East Bank—grinding, cleaning for paint, things like that. I worked on the inner shell using guns to cut holes.”
That first job was the beginning of a career that would span more than five decades. Over the years, Duck has worked on more ships than he can count, from the iconic USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin to Coast Guard cutters and destroyers.
Along the way, he learned from experienced craftsmen who took the time to share their knowledge, something he has worked to pass on throughout his own career.
“I stayed around them and asked questions—why they did things, how they did them,” he said. “That’s how I learned my craft. And when new people came along, I taught them what I knew.”
For Duck, the job has always been about more than the work itself. The relationships built over decades in the shipyard are just as meaningful.
“When you work with someone a long time, you really know each other,” he said. “You don’t even have to talk—you already know what the other person needs. That’s how you build teamwork. You get to know the people working beside you every day and check on them.”
Duck also takes a lot of pride in his work. Just ask him who the best insulator at Ingalls is and he’ll tell you, “Me, of course.”
But ask him why he’s the best, and his answer is one that many shipbuilders can learn from.
“I don’t miss, I don’t take shortcuts and I ain’t had an injury my whole time out here,” he said.
It’s dedication that hasn’t escaped those who work with him.
“Duck’s commitment to safety, his work ethic and attention to detail have set a standard of excellence for the entire department,” said Joel Shell, director, Sheetmetal-Joiner/Insulator. “Thank you for a career defined by first-time quality, zero injuries and five decades of help building these great ships!”
And if he could ever name a ship? You guessed it—the USS Duck.
It’s a name that reflects his humor, his humility and the legacy he has built—one which spans more than 50 years, countless ships and an immeasurable impact on the people around him.
Thanks for being an Ingalls shipbuilder, Donald “Duck” Ashford!