A group of 17 Newport News shipbuilders graduated from Old Dominion University’s Engineering Systems and Industrial Engineering Certification Program on Jan. 28. The graduates started the intensive six-course program in August 2024 and completed it in December 2025.

This program, co-developed by NNS and Old Dominion, targets six key shipbuilding areas: cost engineering, quality, systems engineering, project management, decision making and advanced manufacturing. Several NNS functional areas met with Old Dominion to tailor each course to the company’s needs.

The shipbuilders who completed this certification are: Gary J. Chenkin (O41), Dustin O. Clayborne (X31), Antonio J. Etheridge, Jr. (E64), Gregory Fetter (E24), Sean Fitzmorris (C102), Casey L. Frye (E81), Jarrod George Griffith (E11), Jessica Hairston (O07), Jack Hull (K07), Darnell K. Johnson, Jr. (X67), Robert L. Kincade (O87), Joshua Lavallais (X22), John Mariner (E46), Brian K. McGuire (E70), Chiemerigo Adaobi Ewere Ogboi (E33), Rachel K. Talbott (O22) and Janine Papio (E22).

For more information about the program, contact Rob Gies (E02).