HII to Celebrate National Apprenticeship Day

Rhea-AI Summary

HII, America's largest military shipbuilder, is celebrating National Apprenticeship Day on April 30, 2025, showcasing their commitment to developing skilled professionals through three major apprenticeship programs:

• Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School in Virginia - Offers 4-8 year tuition-free programs in 19 trades, with paid 40-hour work weeks and associate's degree opportunities
• Ingalls Shipbuilding Apprentice School in Mississippi - Partners with Gulf Coast Community College, offering 15 registered programs with competitive wages and benefits
• Mission Technologies' Global Security programs - Includes nuclear operator apprenticeships in New Mexico and South Carolina, plus fleet sustainment training

The initiative is part of HII's "Build It" hiring campaign launched in 2024. The company emphasizes STEM education partnerships with colleges and schools near all three divisions, demonstrating their dedication to building the next generation of defense industry professionals.

Positive

• Large-scale apprenticeship programs across three divisions demonstrate strong workforce development pipeline
• Partnership with educational institutions and DOL certification indicates strong institutional backing
• Paid apprenticeship model helps attract and retain talent while building skilled workforce
• Strategic investment in future workforce through 600+ current apprentices
• Successful track record with 4,000+ apprenticeship graduates at Ingalls Shipbuilding alone

Negative

• None.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In honor of National Apprenticeship Day on April 30, HII (NYSE: HII), the nation’s largest military shipbuilder and all-domain defense provider, is highlighting the thousands of HII apprentices who are helping build the most advanced ships and technologies for our national security.

National Apprenticeship Day is a nationwide celebration established by the U.S. Department of Labor to recognize the importance of connecting individuals to meaningful careers and assisting employers in building a skilled workforce. This year National Apprenticeship Day moved to the spring, with its traditional weeklong celebration to resume in 2026. 

Through registered apprenticeship programs offered at each of its three divisions, HII is developing the next generation of skilled professionals in the industry. Apprenticeship is a key focus of HII’s “Build It” hiring campaign, which launched in May 2024.

“HII’s apprenticeship programs are more than just job training opportunities, they’re a powerful bridge to fulfilling a life-long career,” said Edmond Hughes, HII’s executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “We can’t win without them! Our apprentices are the foundation of our skilled workforce and each one plays a critical role in building ships to advance our national defense.”

Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-to-celebrate-national-apprenticeship-day/.

HII’s three industry-leading apprenticeship programs are:

• The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School in Virginia, which offers four- to eight-year, tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades and seven optional programs. Founded in 1919 and accredited by the Council for Occupational Education, the school is certified to offer associate’s degrees of applied science in maritime technology in 26 educational programs. Apprentices work a 40-hour week and are paid for all work, including time spent in academic classes. In 2023, the school was selected for the U.S. Department of Labor’s apprenticeship ambassador program.
• The Ingalls Shipbuilding Apprentice School in Mississippi, is a competitive workforce development initiative designed in partnership with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to prepare future shipbuilders through specialized training in one of 15 registered Department of Labor apprentice programs. Since its inception in 1952, the program has produced more than 4,000 graduates who have gone on to support operations at Ingalls Shipbuilding. The 600 apprentices currently enrolled earn competitive wages and receive a comprehensive benefit package upon entering the program. This allows them to receive an education, build work ethic and gain experience through classes and on-the-job training.
• The Mission Technologies’ Global Security group offers three apprenticeship programs, two of which are within the nuclear and environmental services portfolio that partner with the nuclear operator apprenticeship programs at Newport News Nuclear BWXT (N3B) in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) near Aiken, South Carolina. The third Mission Technologies program is in the fleet sustainment portfolio and focuses on providing students with experience in the maintenance, repair and modernization of U.S. Navy ships.
  

Across the company, HII is committed to providing hands-on, structured training for apprentices and partnering with two- and four-year colleges and universities, as well as making investments in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at elementary, middle and high schools near all three divisions.

To learn more about apprenticeships and career opportunities at HII, please visit www.HII.com.

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

HII Contact:

Danny Hernandez
Danny.J.Hernandez@hii-co.com
(202) 264-7143

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da5e17de-ec1c-42d6-aba9-cb5fae671a8b

FAQ

What are the 3 main apprenticeship programs offered by HII (NYSE: HII)?

HII offers three main apprenticeship programs: The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School in Virginia (4-8 year programs in 19 trades), The Ingalls Shipbuilding Apprentice School in Mississippi (15 registered programs), and Mission Technologies' Global Security apprenticeships at three locations focusing on nuclear services and fleet sustainment.

How many apprentices are currently enrolled in HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding program?

Currently, 600 apprentices are enrolled in the Ingalls Shipbuilding Apprentice School program, receiving competitive wages and comprehensive benefits while gaining education and on-the-job training.

What benefits do Newport News Shipbuilding apprentices receive at HII?

Newport News Shipbuilding apprentices receive tuition-free training, paid 40-hour work weeks (including time in academic classes), and can earn associate's degrees in maritime technology across 26 educational programs.

When did HII launch its 'Build It' hiring campaign for apprenticeships?

HII launched its 'Build It' hiring campaign in May 2024, with apprenticeship programs being a key focus of the initiative.

How many graduates has HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding Apprentice School produced since 1952?

Since its establishment in 1952, the Ingalls Shipbuilding Apprentice School has produced more than 4,000 graduates who now support operations at Ingalls Shipbuilding.