U.S. Navy leaders, including Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, toured the HII Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Jan. 7.
Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, and Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps, joined Phelan in Pascagoula, MS to gain insight into HII’s workforce initiatives and discuss the company’s role in delivering the Navy’s “Golden Fleet” of advanced surface combatants.
“Ingalls Shipbuilding represents the ingenuity and commitment required to meet the Navy’s current and future needs. The shipbuilders I met today are on the front lines of American strength — men and women whose hard work protects our national security, underwrites our liberty, and sustains the way of life we are sworn to defend. There is no maritime dominance without their skill, innovation, and relentless commitment to excellence,” Phelan said.
During the visit the military leaders met with HII and Ingalls leadership to discuss the current shipbuilding programs and the advanced manufacturing technology being used there. The leaders also toured the America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville, currently under construction, and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Ted Stevens.
Ingalls Shipbuilding supports the early engineering and design discussions for the Navy’s next battleship, part of the “Golden Fleet” effort to modernize the Navy. Ingalls was also selected to design and construct the Navy’s future small surface combatant platform to leverage the design of the Legend-class national security cutter.
“The decisive combat power our Navy needs doesn’t start at sea — it starts right here, on the deck plates, with the welders, engineers, planners, and tradesmen who show up every day to build America’s Navy,” Caudle said. “What shipbuilders do matters and our Sailors depend on it. We’re working with shipyard leaders and industry partners to bring the President’s vision for our Golden Fleet to life and what it will take to make that vision real.”
HII said it has invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure facilities and advanced toolsets at Ingalls Shipbuilding to prepare for the delivery of next-generation capabilities. The investments have enhanced every facet of production, the company said.