Dear Shipbuilders,
Today is a tough day as we say goodbye to 314 fellow shipbuilders as part of a layoff impacting our salaried workforce. This is the first workforce reduction we’ve experienced in five years and comes after a thorough assessment of our business. This decision, along with the demotion of an additional 119 managers, more evenly distributes management spans and reshapes production and support ratios. All impacted employees have been notified.

Our priority is for the well-being of our employees, and we understand the impact this layoff has on them and their families. We are providing severance and benefits as well as transition assistance to aid them through this stressful time. We know there is impact on co-workers as well, and I want to remind everyone about the HERO Program (access code: Huntington Ingalls), a free benefit to employees and their families. HERO has professional counselors experienced with helping families work through life’s challenges.

It is important to stress that our future remains strong even in the midst of today’s news. We will continue hiring for specific, critical positions. While these are very difficult decisions, they are necessary cost controls to help ensure the future of our shipyard and the affordability of the ships we build.

Respectfully,
Jennifer Boykin
President
Newport News Shipbuilding