I am both honored and humbled to share that I have been appointed to become the 21st president of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, succeeding Jennifer Boykin, who is retiring at the end of the year.
Being part of the Ingalls Shipbuilding family and serving alongside you for nearly thirty years has been the greatest honor of my life. While it is difficult to leave this dedicated team of shipbuilders, I look forward to the opportunity to earn the trust and respect of a new shipbuilding family and will dedicate myself to advancing the NNS mission. Jennifer has made remarkable contributions, not the least of which by being a strong and collaborative partner to our Ingalls Shipbuilding team, and I am committed to serving the team in the same way.
As for Ingalls Shipbuilding, it is with great confidence that I announce Brian Blanchette, Vice President of Engineering and Quality, as the incoming President of Ingalls Shipbuilding, effective January 1, 2025. Brian has served our organization for over 28 years, proving himself a compassionate and capable leader on our team. He shares a love for shipbuilding and shipbuilders, with a great vision for furthering our mission in the coming years.
Brian will be invested in the success of all Ingalls shipbuilders, as well as our customers and community stakeholders.
Please join me in congratulating Brian and supporting him in his transition!
With sincere gratitude,
Kari
Read more about the shipyard leadership changes here: https://hii.com/news/hii-names-kari-wilkinson-to-lead-newport-news-shipbuilding/