Newport News Shipbuilding’s interns gathered to celebrate the completion of their 10-week programs with a luncheon last week, just in time for National Internship Day, which is July 30.

During the lunch, attendees heard from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Commanding Officer Capt. David Skarosi and Command Master Chief Michael Smith. The discussion focused on leadership, the vital relationship between shipbuilders and sailors and included a Q&A with the captain.

“There are three key points to leadership,” Skarosi said. “First – do you have high standards? My team knows my expectations every day. They feel it. Second – show that you care. Finally, there is nothing that matters more than culture. If the culture is right, the system runs.”

Skarosi emphasized that for culture to set in, there must be an environment of trust and care where everybody is included.

“Understand the cost of this,” Smith added. “I don’t mean financial costs. I mean human capital costs. Culture does not get to stay stagnant. At no point can you sit and think ‘We are good now,’ because new people are joining this culture each day. Culture is something that you do. It is how you handle anything, down to the most mundane problem, and look to see who it affects – and how.”

Kevin Kollar (E86) is a first-year intern at NNS, but also participated in the discussion as a Navy veteran.

“I was a diver in the Navy for 12 years and had some time working at a shipyard,” Kollar said. “That experience is what interested me in an internship with NNS.”

Kollar added that he really appreciated Skarosi’s take on leadership and the energy he brought to the discussion.

“Capt. Skarosi drove home the importance of team and the impact that we as shipbuilders have on our sailors.”