Christopher Kastner

Executive VP & Chief Information Officer, Huntington Ingalls Industries

Search every verified Christopher Kastner interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Christopher Kastner, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), discussed the company's shipbuilding operations and financial outlook in a May 2024 interview during New York's Fleet Week. He stated that HII has 40 ships in process and is negotiating 20 more over the next six months, while noting significant challenges in finding labor. Kastner said margins in shipbuilding have been "pretty stable" but "not good enough," attributing current performance to transitioning out of ships negotiated in a pre-COVID macroeconomic environment. He expressed confidence that the company will achieve a 9 to 10% return on sales in shipbuilding as it moves into newer ship contracts. Kastner also discussed HII's expansion into technology through its Mission Technologies segment, which he said grew 20% in the first quarter and has an $85 billion backlog. He described the segment's focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems, saying it aligns with Pentagon priorities. In a December 2023 conversation about organizational transformation, Kastner said the company's acquisitions in this area were intended to enhance, not pivot away from, its core shipbuilding business, and that he works to reassure Navy customers of this focus. He emphasized the importance of consistent, top-down messaging and direct engagement with employees to drive cultural change.