The Damage Control team is pictured, from left, back row: Dennis Holliman and Jason Dordon; middle row: Robert Tyson, Michelle Tyson and Jonathan Coulson; front row: Joel Stiles, Kimberly Holliman and Glenn Heal.
Every shipbuilder at Ingalls plays a role in delivering safe, capable ships to the fleet, but the work is not done once the ship is gone. The Planning Yard Services (PYS) team carries the mission forward, maintaining and supporting active-duty ships across the globe.
Within that group, the Damage Control team ensures our warfighters have the critical information needed to navigate emergencies.
Led by manager Joel Stiles, the team is made up of seven designers. Together, they create and maintain laminated Damage Control plates and Damage Control— detailed diagrams and text that map out compartments, routes and major systems for ships currently in action.
“When a new Sailor checks in, they often have no idea how the ship is laid out,” explained Joel. “These ships are massive. Without guidance, they can get lost trying to find where they sleep, where they work or where to go when something goes wrong.”
These plates are essential for basic orientation, but in an emergency, they become lifesaving tools.
“The Damage Control products we develop and maintain provide the Navy with the information needed to mitigate damage and save the ship in the event it encounters damage,” said Jason Dordon, designer.
The impact of this work became clear when a fire broke out on LPD 18 last year. Thanks to accurate, updated DC plates provided by the PYS team, the crew was able to contain the fire to the forward section, preventing far more serious damage. After investigation and repair, the ship returned to service.
“Seeing our work make a real difference in a moment like that reminds us why precision matters,” said Kimberly Holliman, designer. “Every line we draw and every update we verify supports the crew’s ability to act quickly and confidently when it counts.”
Across the fleet—from carriers at sea to ships damaged by mines—servicemembers often face life-or-death choices with only seconds to decide.
“There’s no perfect choice in an emergency,” said Joel, who spent 20 years in the Navy. “You act with the information you have. Our job is to make sure they have the best possible information.”
It’s work that ties closely to what every shipbuilder contributes across the yard, no matter their role.
“Everything we do here is about the finished ship and the warfighter who will rely on it,” Joel said. “Accuracy is everything.”
The PYS Damage Control team stands as a reminder that the responsibility of Ingalls shipbuilders extends far beyond construction. It ensures the warfighters who operate these ships can navigate, react and survive—no matter what challenges they face at sea.