HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Welcomes High School Graduates Recruited Through Innovative WAVES Program

HII (NYSE:HII) announced that Newport News Shipbuilding is welcoming more than 50 graduating high school seniors into shipbuilding careers through its WAVES outreach program.

Rhea-AI Summary

HII (NYSE:HII) announced that Newport News Shipbuilding is welcoming more than 50 graduating high school seniors into shipbuilding careers through its WAVES outreach program.

WAVES (Workforce Attraction Via Experienced Shipbuilders) places experienced tradespeople in 14 Virginia high schools to mentor students, support technical education and connect them with HII job opportunities.

Argus Jun 3 session

-2.08% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – HII

In the Jun 3 session, HII declined 2.08%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights HII’s WAVES program, which brings more than 50 graduating seniors from ...

Analysis

This announcement highlights HII’s WAVES program, which brings more than 50 graduating seniors from 14 Virginia schools directly into shipbuilding careers at Newport News Shipbuilding. It reinforces a broader theme of workforce and skills investment alongside recent technology and hiring initiatives. Investors may watch how such programs affect execution on HII’s large naval backlog, employee retention, and training costs, as well as how they complement ongoing autonomous and mission technologies efforts.

Key Figures

High school seniors: more than 50 students Partner schools: 14 schools Scout visit frequency: at least once a month

High school seniors

more than 50 students

Graduating seniors joining shipbuilding careers via WAVES

Partner schools

14 schools

High schools across Virginia in WAVES program

Scout visit frequency

at least once a month

Experienced shipbuilders visiting participating high schools

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 01

5 events

1. Jun 01

   USV testing milestone

   24h Move

   -3.8%

   ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel advanced to U.S. Navy at-sea testing phase.

2. May 22

   Skilled trades hiring

   24h Move

   +1.0%

   Ingalls announced on-site hiring event with higher wages and benefits for trades.

3. May 21

   DefenseTech event

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   Media advisory for DefenseTech LIVE technology and government-industry discussions.

4. May 21

   Investor conference

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   Announcement of participation in Bernstein’s Strategic Decisions Conference.

5. May 20

   Autonomy showcase

   24h Move

   -0.3%

   Showcase of autonomous maritime and LVC training capabilities at Combined Naval Event.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division is welcoming more than 50 graduating high school seniors to shipbuilding careers through an innovative outreach program coordinated with 14 schools across Virginia.

Workforce Attraction Via Experienced Shipbuilders, known as WAVES, embeds experienced skilled tradespeople from NNS into high schools that offer technical career education curriculums. These shipbuilders, known as scouts, visit the school at least once a month, where they build trusted relationships with career counselors and engage with students to provide mentorship, tutoring support and information on HII career opportunities.

“WAVES bridges the gap between education and hands-on experience, equipping students with knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to excel in their chosen fields,” said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources. “Through personalized guidance and partnerships, we are building the next generation of skilled professionals and we’re thrilled to have these students join our powerful mission at Newport News Shipbuilding.”

Photos accompanying this release are available at https://www.hii.com/newsroom.

NNS hosted its first ‘Welcoming Ceremony’ Wednesday for students recruited through WAVES mentorships who have accepted offers of employment with the company. The event recognized the students’ accomplishments and offered an introduction to the shipyard and their new teammates.

For more information about careers at Newport News Shipbuilding, visit hii.com/careers.

About HII

HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.

With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW 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
• HII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/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/d6461f2f-f73b-4eed-a898-4e5556ccd563

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is the HII (NYSE:HII) WAVES program at Newport News Shipbuilding?

The WAVES program is a workforce outreach initiative that embeds experienced shipbuilders in Virginia high schools. According to HII, these mentors support technical education, provide tutoring and share information about shipbuilding careers at Newport News Shipbuilding.

How many high school graduates are joining HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding through WAVES in June 2026?

More than 50 graduating high school seniors are joining Newport News Shipbuilding through WAVES. According to HII, these students accepted employment offers after mentorship from experienced shipbuilders embedded in participating Virginia high schools.

How does the WAVES program at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding work with Virginia high schools?

WAVES partners with 14 Virginia high schools that have technical career programs. According to HII, experienced shipbuilders visit at least monthly, build relationships with counselors, mentor students, provide tutoring and explain career paths at Newport News Shipbuilding.

What is the role of WAVES scouts in HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding recruiting?

WAVES scouts are experienced tradespeople who mentor students in partner high schools. According to HII, they visit monthly to offer guidance, tutoring support and information on HII career opportunities, helping students transition into shipbuilding roles after graduation.

What was the purpose of the first WAVES Welcoming Ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding?

The Welcoming Ceremony recognized students recruited through WAVES who accepted HII job offers. According to HII, the event celebrated their achievements and introduced them to the shipyard environment and future teammates at Newport News Shipbuilding.

How can students or job seekers explore careers at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding?

Interested candidates can explore careers by visiting HII’s careers website. According to HII, additional information about opportunities at Newport News Shipbuilding is available online, supporting students reached through WAVES and other job seekers considering shipbuilding careers.