Eight Newport News Shipbuilding welders have been honored with a first-of-its-kind award for completing a critical project on time and with first-time quality.

The team, which included first- and second-shift shipbuilders, was handpicked to weld four torpedo tubes in the Ring Module Shop last fall. Before starting the work, team members were presented guidelines to execute with the understanding that if they were successful, they would receive financial recognition through the Enhanced Employee Recognition Program (EERP).

The Employee Recognition Program (ERP) is an existing cash-based recognition program designed to reward hourly employees who demonstrate outstanding performance or make an exceptional contribution to the company’s success. Historically, employees recognized with ERPs have been identified at the completion of work. However, the new EERP is incentive-based recognition where the teams understand goals and expectations prior to starting work.

The EERP does not replace the existing ERP, but presents a new way of recognizing teams that complete identified, critical-path work in accordance with quality and schedule requirements.

The welders who were recognized include:

• Scotty Leggett
• Katelynn Cullen
• Hayden Goddin
• Stanley Jones
• Thomas Sandman
• Daryl “Mookie” Copeland
• Jacob McNulty
• Robert Fisher

Members of the team who were honored were grateful for the recognition. “It feels great. It was a nice reward,” Cullen said.