Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted a high-level delegation from the U.S. Navy, including Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, and Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, at its Ingalls Shipbuilding division on January 7, 2026. The visit underscored Ingalls’ critical role in modernizing the fleet and addressing the urgent demands for naval shipbuilding.
During the tour of the Pascagoula, Mississippi facility, senior leaders gained firsthand insight into HII’s ongoing workforce initiatives and its strategic contributions to the Navy’s “Golden Fleet” – a program aimed at fielding advanced surface combatants. Ingalls Shipbuilding is currently engaged in early engineering and design phases for the Navy’s next-generation battleship, a key component of this modernization strategy.
Furthermore, Ingalls has been selected to design and construct the Navy’s future Small Surface Combatant (SSC) program, leveraging the established and successful design of the Legend-class national security cutter. This designation highlights HII’s advanced shipbuilding capabilities and its ability to deliver innovative solutions for the evolving naval landscape.
“Ingalls Shipbuilding represents the ingenuity and commitment required to meet the Navy’s current and future needs,” stated Secretary Phelan. “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.”
HII’s commitment to expanding its shipbuilding capacity and enhancing operational efficiency was a central theme of the visit. The company has made a substantial investment of over $1 billion in Ingalls’ infrastructure, advanced facilities, and cutting-edge toolsets. These investments are designed to increase shipbuilding throughput and ensure the yard is well-equipped to meet the escalating demands for new naval platforms, including destroyers and amphibious assault ships.
“We want to thank Secretary Phelan and Department of Navy leadership for visiting with our shipbuilders who are proud to support America’s efforts to maintain maritime supremacy,” said HII President and CEO Chris Kastner. “Across our shipyards, we recognize the U.S. Navy’s urgent need for ships. HII has worked diligently in partnership with our customer to expand our capacity to deliver on this increased and urgent demand, by investing in our yards, establishing partnerships, increasing our hiring retention, and increasing shipbuilder proficiency to support performance.”
The visiting dignitaries also had the opportunity to tour active production areas, observing the construction of the America-class amphibious assault ship *Bougainville* (LHA 8) and the recently delivered Arleigh Burke-class destroyer *Ted Stevens* (DDG 128). These vessels represent the cutting edge of naval engineering and construction, showcasing Ingalls’ prowess in delivering complex and technologically advanced warships.
Adm. Caudle emphasized the foundational importance of shipbuilding: “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. 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.”
Gen. Smith echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strategic importance of HII’s work: “The work being done here is vital to our national interest. These workers should be proud to know they are directly contributing to America’s Naval Expeditionary Force. These ships will project American power across the globe, with Marines aboard ready to respond to any crisis or conflict.”
The investments and strategic selections announced during the visit signal a robust future for Ingalls Shipbuilding and its integral role in maintaining U.S. naval superiority. By focusing on advanced design, efficient production, and a skilled workforce, HII is positioning itself to meet the critical shipbuilding needs of the U.S. Navy for decades to come.
**About HII:**
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for its customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong.
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