Transitioning into a foreman role at Newport News Shipbuilding can be both exciting and challenging. To provide strategic support for this crucial position, Learning and Development, the Deck Plate Standards Team and Ship Operations developed a Foreman Learning pilot program.

On June 6, 18 shipbuilders graduated from the first wave of the program and were recognized by company leadership. “I’ve heard from my team throughout this process that you have been one of the most engaged groups of leaders – that you are the standard bearers,” Xavier Beale, vice president of Human Resources, told the graduates.

Participants received a total of six weeks of training and development. In the first week, the foremen explored key topics such as HII’s mission and values, building relationships, communication skills and work processes.

Weeks two through five consisted of on-the-job learning with direct support from a peer foreman, a pivotal role to the program. This segment of the program focused on Deck Plate Standards and had the opportunity to observe, practice and demonstrate the first week’s key topics.

In the sixth and final week, the foremen returned to the classroom to discuss topics such as ethics, feedback and coaching, quality and safety, in addition to diving further into week one concepts with practical application exercises.

Many of the participants, including Willie Branch (K45), said they are seeing immediate value in the program and its design. “The energy behind this class, you could tell leadership wants to see a change,” Branch said. “It was very beneficial for me because I hadn’t worked as a makeup foreman before becoming a foreman.”

Tyler Winckler (K45) agreed. “If there were something like this in place before I went on long-term makeup, that transition would have been so much smoother.”

The team responsible for developing the pilot is evaluating feedback provided by the first participants to enhance the next program offering.

“I am leaving here knowing that I gained something,” Cody Long (K47) said. “It truly shows how dedicated the company is to improving our trajectory, and that is something I can stand behind.”