A new, virtual-based business model is setting a precedent between Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding. The partnership has been in the making for almost a decade, and now the two yards are joining forces to meet the demanding workload shipbuilders face.

A team of engineers and designers from both yards are working remotely and in person. As the Engineering and Design Division workload at NNS continues to build, so has the demand for experienced shipbuilders. That’s when the idea to bring on employees from Ingalls became a reality.

Ingalls designers are primarily supporting Aircraft Carrier Engineering by producing drawings and 3D product model files. In addition, Ingalls engineers and designers are supporting sub fleet support work on site at NNS.

NNS Design Manager Jason Boyce is leading his team in Newport News while other members are located at Ingalls in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He says the partnership just makes sense.

“It’s been a tremendous asset. We do use some different verbiage, but it’s all the same principle. It’s still shipbuilding. The idea of learning from one another is something we should have done a long time ago,” he said.

The initial thought was to get the virtual office up and running with several trips back and forth between the two yards, but COVID-19 stopped any chances of a hand hold.

Jeff Prestridge is on the Ingalls side of the partnership, contributing his skills and knowledge to NNS. “The COVID pandemic, if there is a silver lining in anything, it kind of helped us set up the infrastructure and prove that it would work.”

Several dozen shipbuilders have been brought onboard to the effort with plans for continued growth. Watch a video about the partnership on MyNNS.