In September 2020, Supply Chain Procurement (SCP) moved from Bldg. 520 to NetCenter. That move away from Newport News Shipbuilding’s main campus, coupled with the majority of SCP personnel working from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, removed the daily opportunity to see construction progress and attend meetings on the waterfront.

Dozens of SCP personnel began working at NNS during the pandemic and have never been inside the shipyard gates. Now that COVID-19 protocols have eased, SCP is working with New Carrier Construction teams and leadership in Structural Fabrication and Assembly (SFA) to restart tours of waterfront facilities for supply chain specialists and project managers. The monthly tours are coordinated by Ashley Guill (O59), who ensures each participant is familiar with what to expect in the manufacturing environment and provides safety briefs prior to the tours.

In March, Ed Spruill, Enterprise (CVN 80) superintendent, led a tour of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and James Insley (X02), construction supervisor, led an SFA tour. The tours were well received by the participants.

“CVN 79 was possibly one of the coolest places I’ve ever been. I really appreciated our guide taking a particular interest in our buying queues and answering questions. The view is certainly sweeter from the Kennedy flight deck than my makeshift office at home,” said Moriah Montoya (O51).

Timothy Newman (O51) said getting to see “just how massive these ships are was a great experience.”

“We were able to go down into the shaft alley and see the exact parts I am working for CVN 80, and the amount of work that will need to go into installing them if they are late,” he said.

Having every buyer and project manager visit a ship or shop on the waterfront is an O51 department goal for 2022. SCP is grateful to Spruill, Insley and Guill for Leading the Way by sharing their time and expertise with SCP shipbuilders and providing them a personal connection to the mission.