As excitement surrounding builder’s sea trials for John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) settles, two shipbuilders continue shaping the moments, memories and stories behind Newport News Shipbuilding’s steel giants – and the people who bring them to life.

Together, Aaron Pritchett (O29) and Ashley Cowan (O29) bring 23 years of media experience at NNS, capturing the world of shipbuilding through their videography and photography. Their mission is to highlight not only aircraft carrier and submarine construction, but the people behind the product.

Pritchett, a 13-year shipbuilder, veteran news photojournalist and FAA-certified drone pilot, believes that people are central to the shipyard story.

“Shipbuilders across the shipyard are the heartbeat of what we do every day. The folks down on the waterfront and deck plate are physically bringing these ships to life,” Pritchett said. “They are the unsung heroes of the shipyard. I want to showcase their pride and passion, and show the public their perspective.”

Cowan strives to do the same. After photographing the company for 10 years, her work spans the waterfront, office buildings, company’s social media pages, trade shows and even international publications.

“We have the most amazing shipbuilders here,” she said. “They work day and night to deliver our ships to the Navy. I’m always in awe seeing and documenting these powerful war machines, but none of it would be possible without our people helping in every way.”

Most recently, the pair documented CVN 79’s builder’s sea trials, bringing home thousands of photos and hours of footage after eight days at sea. Fighting the weather and the ever-changing schedule, they captured evolutions like fire suppression testing, anchor drops and high-speed turns.

“There is so much work behind the scenes,” Pritchett said. “Viewers see the final product but don’t know about the amount of gear we had to carry through the ship each day. It’s not just setting up a camera and pressing record – it’s audio, lighting, angles, looking for the right backdrop and the right moments.”

Their work takes them from the lowest deck levels of a carrier and the bottoms of dry docks, to hundreds of feet in the air flying above submarines and transversing cranes.

Pritchett and Cowan are the engine behind shipbuilder feature series such as Hot Shots, Around the Yard at NNS, We Are Shipbuilders and the Always On campaign.

“It’s always an honor that my role allows me to photograph our people, products and the history of the shipyard,” Cowan said. “I am proud of our shipbuilders who helped make sea trials a success. There is more to come!”

Editor’s Note: I had the privilege of attending Kennedy’s 2019 christening ceremony before my career as a shipbuilder even began. As Caroline Kennedy christened CVN 79, I never imagined that I would one day board that same ship to spend a week capturing and sharing the stories of so many incredible shipbuilders.

As I approach my one-year anniversary as the editor of Currents, I find myself reflecting on those shipbuilders – my colleagues and friends – who embody “Always Good Ships.”