Ingalls Shipbuilding Hosts Navy Future Commission For Industrial Base Review
Members of the National Commission on the Future of the Navy recently visited the Arleigh Burke class destroyer Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. The visit was part of the commission’s nationwide review to develop recommendations for strengthening American seapower.
Assessing Shipbuilding Capacity and Industrial Investments
The visit provided commission members with a firsthand look at the shipbuilding capabilities, workforce training, and industrial investments that support the Navy’s future fleet requirements. The commission is conducting a comprehensive study of naval strategy, resources, force structure, and the industrial base to assess the nation’s shipbuilding capacity and long-term production needs.
Commissioner Mitch Waldman emphasized the importance of a strong Navy relying on a capable and resilient industrial base. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to witness Ingalls Shipbuilding’s significant industrial capacity and workforce capability as the commission continues its assessment of the nation’s ability to design, build, and sustain the future Navy.
Unmatched Skill and Dedication at Ingalls Shipbuilding
During the visit, commission members toured key production and training areas, including the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), the Virtual Reality Welding Lab, and the Maritime Training Academy. The tour showcased the pace and scale of Ingalls’ operations, along with major infrastructure investments aimed at supporting increased throughput across the US maritime industrial base.
Eric Crooker, Ingalls vice president of program management, highlighted the unmatched skill and dedication of Ingalls shipbuilders in every ship they build. With over 87 years of experience in building ships for the US Navy and more than a dozen ships currently in active construction, Ingalls’ workforce dedication and upcoming ship deliveries demonstrate the strength and capability they provide to the nation.
With 13 ships under construction and three deliveries planned in the next year, Ingalls Shipbuilding offers a firsthand view of the production capacity and workforce capabilities crucial to meeting future fleet requirements. The shipyard’s progress through its distributed shipbuilding program further emphasizes its role in the broader maritime industrial base.
The FNC, established by Congress, aims to provide an independent review of naval force structure, shipbuilding performance, and industrial-base requirements. Public hearings began in March 2026, with initial findings expected in January 2027.
