Shipbuilders,

Our ethics and values are at the heart of who we are as shipbuilders. We were founded on the principle of “Always Good Ships” – of always accomplishing our work the right way. At all levels of NNS, it is our responsibility to keep this culture strong so that the U.S. Navy always has the upper hand and always has confidence in the integrity of our work. Our nation is counting on all of us, and so are the moms, dads, spouses and children of our Navy sailors.

Ethics starts with each of us. Our individual actions and behaviors can either strengthen – or weaken – our ethical culture in an instant. August is Ethics and Compliance Awareness Month across HII. It’s an opportunity to focus on the importance of our ethical culture and company values. On the surface, it is easy to say, “I am ethical and would always do the right thing.” I ask you to think deeper and self-reflect on the importance of integrity and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I fully committed to the integrity of my work, and do I understand the importance of raising my hand if I somehow fall short of company expectations for quality work?
2. How would I respond if I knew a good friend or teammate was behaving unethically at work, particularly on matters that could impact the safety of our shipbuilders and the sailors who depend upon us?

I encourage you to share your self-reflections with your teammates and engage in a discussion with them for development and learning. I also want to remind you that if you know of questionable behavior or actions, you can anonymously report it, 24/7, through the HII OpenLine by calling 1-877-631-0020.

Speaking up is not always easy, but as the builders of our nation’s most technologically advanced ships, we are all obligated to do so. The stakes are too high for anything less.

Respectfully,
Jennifer Boykin
President, Newport News Shipbuilding