HII Hosts Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer at Newport News Shipbuilding

Rhea-AI Summary

HII (NYSE: HII) hosted Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division, focusing on workforce development and national security initiatives. The visit included a shipyard tour and a roundtable discussion at The Apprentice School.

The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School, funded by HII, offers tuition-free apprenticeships lasting 4-8 years in 19 trades and 7 optional programs. The school accepts over 200 apprentices annually, providing paid 40-hour work weeks including academic classes.

NNS is collaborating with the Navy's Maritime Industrial Base office and Hampton Roads Workforce Council to strengthen the regional talent pipeline, supporting the U.S. Navy's increasing demand for nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.

Positive

• Tuition-free apprenticeship program offering comprehensive training in 19 trades
• Strong partnership with Department of Labor and U.S. Navy for workforce development
• Active recruitment and training initiatives to meet growing naval vessel demand

Negative

• None.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Sept. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) hosted Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division today.

The visit included a tour of the shipyard and a roundtable discussion with community leaders at the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School focused on workforce development and national security.

“As we work to restore American maritime dominance, I enjoyed visiting Newport News Shipbuilding to see first-hand how they are leading the way, including through the impressive programs they are offering at The Apprentice School,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “The Department of Labor is proud to support our next generation of skilled shipbuilders, and by collaborating with shipyards like NNS, we will continue to create new opportunities for American workers while protecting national security.”

“We are honored Secretary Chavez-DeRemer invested time to meet some of the talented shipbuilders who are advancing our critical national security mission,” said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources. “Ensuring we have the skilled shipbuilders necessary to build the submarines and aircraft carriers our U.S. Navy needs is a team effort between our partners locally, regionally and nationally.”

As NNS continues to hire skilled tradespeople to meet the U.S. Navy’s growing demand for nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, federal programs managed by the Department of Labor are critical to the shipyard’s efforts.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-hosts-secretary-of-labor-lori-chavez-deremer-at-newport-news-shipbuilding/.

NNS is also working with the Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base office and Hampton Roads Workforce Council to build the next generation shipbuilding workforce through targeted investments in growing the region’s talent pipeline.

Another training pipeline is the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. Funded by HII to train and develop the next generation of shipyard leaders, The Apprentice School offers four- to eight-year, tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades and seven optional programs.

The Apprentice School accepts more than 200 apprentices per year. Apprentices work a 40-hour week and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes.

For more information about The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School, please visit www.as.edu/.

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 our 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. For more information, visit:

• HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
• HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
• HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
• HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Todd Corillo
Todd.T.Corillo@hii-co.com
(757) 688-3220

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4415d42c-ce0e-4b7f-b77c-d748a83450dc

FAQ

What programs does HII's Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School offer?

The Apprentice School offers tuition-free apprenticeships lasting 4-8 years in 19 trades and 7 optional programs. Apprentices work 40-hour weeks and are paid for all work, including academic classes.

How many apprentices does HII's Newport News Shipbuilding accept annually?

The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School accepts more than 200 apprentices per year for its paid training programs.

What was the purpose of Secretary Chavez-DeRemer's visit to HII's Newport News Shipbuilding?

The Secretary of Labor visited to discuss workforce development and national security, touring the shipyard and participating in a roundtable discussion with community leaders at The Apprentice School.

How is HII addressing the U.S. Navy's growing demand for vessels?

HII is partnering with the Navy's Maritime Industrial Base office and Hampton Roads Workforce Council to build the next generation shipbuilding workforce through targeted investments in growing the region's talent pipeline.