Newport News Shipbuilding partnered with LEAD Virginia and community leaders to host the three-day Lead Forward program in September and October. The class included 36 early- and mid-career level NNS leaders representing 10 NNS divisions and HII.

“The NNS LEAD Forward program is a great investment in training future leaders,” said Bryan Caccavale, vice president of Navy Programs. “Leadership is not just about managing people and projects and achieving goals – it’s also about stewardship. Steward-leaders inspire people because of their commitment to service and responsibility. Stewardship is a commitment to balance and safeguard their own well-being with that of their family, their organization, and the broader community.”

The program, now in its eighth year, was designed by LEAD Virginia to advance leadership development among NNS professionals. Partnering with Hampton Roads businesses, the Lead Forward program provides immersive learning experiences. It also exposes participants to the various regional economic and environmental factors that impact various businesses, how business leaders assess and respond to those factors, and the implications of those factors as they relate to NNS.

Tysheka Simpson (O04) participated in this year’s program and found it to be more than a development experience.

“It was an opportunity to see how every chapter of my journey connects to a greater purpose,” she said. “From serving in the U.S. Navy to growing professionally within NNS, this experience reinforced that leadership is not defined by a title, but by perspective, relationships and the ability to positively influence those around you.”

Gabriella Bishop (E11) added that the program was a powerful space for shared learning.

“One of my biggest takeaways was the importance of servant leadership – serving your people and community first to drive meaningful impact, strong results and shared success,” she said. “I left the experience with renewed pride, fresh challenges to pursue in my leadership journey and valuable insights to bring back to my team and peers.”