Coming from the food service industry, John Hamblin learned about customer service, patience and delivering a quality product in a timely manner. When it was time for a career change, it was fitting that the rigging foreman made a reservation for a party of one at Ingalls.
“I heard about three apprenticeship programs Ingalls was hiring for,” said John. “I applied for all three, got accepted into Rigging and was on a mission to move up in the company.”
John dedicated himself to learning as much as possible about Ingalls and shipbuilding, giving him a better understanding of the company's mission and purpose.
“I remember specifically in my interview, they asked me where I wanted to be in five years,” said John. “I told them from the beginning my goal was to do whatever I can to better myself.”
John knows as long as safety remains the top priority, first-time quality will follow. Now that he’s a foreman, he takes pride in emphasizing that message to his crew and working together with them to provide the safest work area possible for fellow shipbuilders.
“We test mission systems on ships,” said John. “We look at everything from weights to hydraulic pressure. In the Rigging department, we check the vessels from start to finish.”
As a former restaurant manager, John took his leadership qualities and integrated those skills into the shipyard. Among them is building trust with his team. It’s a mantra that has carried John throughout his life and one he now encourages others in the shipyard to follow.
“I work with a lot of good people, and I've met a lot of good people out here,” said John. “One of the best parts of my job is coming to work and executing tasks with my friends. It doesn’t get any better than that.”