About Jennifer Boykin
Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding, announced her retirement at the end of 2024. In a farewell message, she thanked shipbuilders for their commitment and highlighted the year's accomplishments, including the delivery of the submarine New Jersey, the redelivery of the submarine Montana, the launch of the submarine Massachusetts, and the christening of the submarine Arkansas. She also noted the delivery of the first Columbia-class stern unit, completion of dry dock work on USS John C. Stennis, and the transfer of CVN 80 Enterprise to begin assembly on Doris Miller. Boykin stated that she would transition into retirement knowing the company would continue under the leadership of Carrie Wilkinson.
In February 2025, Boykin celebrated the start of production at the company's new Charleston Operations site in South Carolina)Skip. She stated that the site would produce high-quality, mission-ready ship components and that the company planned to ramp production to over a thousand shipbuilders in the next 24 to 36 months. Boykin emphasized the importance of instilling a strong safety culture and noted that work on a first aircraft carrier unit and a submarine module would begin within two weeks. She also acknowledged that in 2022, 26 warships had deficiencies with welds, and she expressed confidence that improved training and oversight would prevent the mistakes from recurring.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Jennifer Boykin's recent appearances.
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Transcript (1 segments)
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Jennifer Boykin0:12
It's too easy to overlook our great accomplishments, but wow, what a year it's been. Over the last 12 months, we delivered New Jersey and redelivered Montana to the Navy, we launched Massachusetts and christened Arkansas, and we delivered the first Columbia class stern unit. In our aircraft carrier programs, we completed dry dock work on USS John C. Stennis and made a splash with dead load testing of EOLS on John F. Kennedy. We transferred CVN 80 Enterprise to the West End of Dry Dock 12 so assembly work can begin on Doris Miller CVN 81 in New York. And at year's end, we acquired a new facility in Charleston, South Carolina, to expand our manufacturing capacity. Although it's been an extremely busy year for us, our shipbuilders continue to answer the call to support our community. We donated 858 units of blood to the American Red Cross, raised $1.4 million for the United Way, donated 990,000 meals to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank, 34,000 school supplies, and raised $43,000 for the Heart Walk. Every time I meet with community leaders, they thank me for your time and generous spirit at Newport News Shipbuilding and HII and in our community and our nation. As you know, I will be retiring as president of Newport News Shipbuilding at the end of this year. It has been my absolute honor and greatest privilege to serve as your president. As I reflect on my career, without a doubt I will most miss the extraordinary people who make Newport News Shipbuilding such a special place to work. Thank you for believing in the dignity of hard work, craftsmanship, and the purpose of our mission. I remain confident in you and will transition into retirement knowing you will lead on to continued greatness under the strong leadership that follows.
