HII Reaffirms Commitment to U.S. Shipbuilding, Industrial Base Expansion and Workforce Development
In a recent House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense field hearing, HII’s executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy, Eric Chewning, reiterated the company’s dedication to fortifying the nation’s defense industrial base and revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding. The event took place at the College of the Canyons, where Chewning emphasized the importance of a modernized workforce, upgraded shipyard infrastructure, and an expanded maritime industrial base.
Accelerating Throughput to Meet National Security Demands
Drawing on his experience as the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, Chewning discussed past reforms aimed at addressing strategic threats and enhancing resilience. He highlighted HII’s efforts to increase throughput in shipyards, noting a 14% year-over-year increase in 2025. With approximately 40 ships under construction or modernization at Ingalls and Newport News, Chewning outlined the company’s goal of achieving a 15% year-over-year throughput increase in 2026.
Strategic Initiatives to Boost Shipbuilding
Chewning detailed HII’s three-part strategy to enhance throughput, which includes investing in hiring, training, and retaining a world-class workforce, modernizing shipbuilding infrastructure through capital investments like the use of physical AI, and expanding the maritime industrial base by growing the supply chain and implementing a distributed shipbuilding strategy. He also expressed gratitude to Congress and the Navy for their support in enabling HII to enter into new shipyard collective bargaining agreements and highlighted the company’s plans to outsource over two million hours of work in 2026, a significant increase from 2024.
Additionally, Chewning discussed the progress at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Charleston Operations, showcasing the facility as a model for maritime industrial base revitalization. Collaborating with the U.S. Navy, the State of South Carolina, and the Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Policy Office, HII transformed the facility into a thriving advanced manufacturing campus supporting the submarine industrial base and creating skilled trade opportunities.
In conclusion, Chewning emphasized the importance of industry, the federal government, and state partners working together to strengthen America’s maritime dominance. He expressed gratitude to the U.S. Navy, Congress, and the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for their ongoing support and commitment to ensuring America’s maritime superiority for future generations.
