Newport News Shipbuilding’s Professional Enhancement & Enrichment Rotation (PEER) Program and its participants continue to successfully navigate through stormy seas.

The PEER Program – which allows salaried individual contributors to complete four six-month rotations in departments across NNS – developed its I.C.A.R.E. brand in 2019 to communicate the program’s standards: innovative, collaborative, adaptive, results driven and engaged.

“No one could have known how relevant the brand would become prior to 2020’s COVID-19 challenges and 2021’s cost pressures,” said Gary Figg, PEER Program manager.

Members of PEER Cohort 12 completed their two-year development journey in December 2020, undaunted by the challenges of COVID-19. The 28 shipbuilders developed a capstone presentation by applying the I.C.A.R.E. attributes and pulling together for greater social awareness and growth.

Social distancing, face masks, WebEx meetings and a team spirit to succeed resulted in the first all video PEER Capstone, produced with support from the Training Services Multimedia Team (O36). Watch the video on MyNNS.

Members of PEER Cohort 17 will start their journey July 1, as the program adapts to leaner practices. Candidates participated in introductory lunch and learn and open house events during off hours, and PEER resident assistants – PEER Program graduates – supported Cohort 17’s onboarding to the PEER family.

“Consistently being innovative, collaborative, adaptive, results driven and engaged has prepared the PEER Program and participants to calmly navigate through stormy seas,” Figg said. “As Franklin Roosevelt once said, ‘A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.’”

The PEER Program is available to full-time, salaried individual contributors. For more information about the program, contact Gary Figg via email.