Two Vice Presidents Named at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding
Rhea-AI Summary
HII (NYSE: HII) named two vice presidents at its Newport News Shipbuilding division effective April 1.
Christie Miller is promoted to vice president of communications, responsible for internal/executive communications, events, protocol, tradeshows and tours, succeeding Jennifer Dunn after her retirement. Christian Ortego joins as vice president and NNS chief counsel, overseeing legal advice and succeeding Jon Arena.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – HII
In the Mar 24 session, HII gained 1.39%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19 | Workforce pipeline visit | Positive | -2.2% | Marine Corps leaders visited Ingalls to strengthen veteran hiring pathways. |
| Mar 16 | Apprentice commencement | Positive | -1.2% | Apprentice School commencement announcement for 2025 class and training programs. |
| Mar 12 | Union wage agreement | Positive | +0.2% | Ratified contracts with 18%+ base wage hikes and long-term wage growth. |
| Mar 03 | Keel authentication | Positive | -0.8% | Keel authenticated for future USS Philadelphia (LPD 32), starting construction. |
| Feb 17 | AI welding partnership | Positive | -0.2% | Path Robotics MOU to boost shipbuilding throughput using physical AI welding. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent operational and workforce news has often been followed by flat to negative price reactions, with only the wage agreement showing a modest positive move.
Over the past six weeks, HII has issued several operational and workforce-related updates, from Marine Corps engagement and apprentice school activities to a ratified collective bargaining agreement and a keel authentication for USS Philadelphia (LPD 32). An AI welding collaboration with Path Robotics highlighted productivity goals, including throughput up 14% in 2025 and a targeted additional 15% in 2026. These announcements generally saw modest, often negative, next-day moves, suggesting limited short-term price impact from similar news items like today’s leadership appointments.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today the selection of two vice presidents at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. Christie Miller has been promoted to the role of vice president of communications and Christian Ortego will join the division as vice president and NNS chief counsel.
In her new role, Miller will have responsibility for internal and executive communications, special events and protocol, and tradeshows and tours for NNS.
Starting her career with the company in 2011, Miller has held positions of increasing responsibility, including corporate manager of media relations, executive communications manager and most recently director of communications at NNS. Before joining HII, Miller worked in government communications and as a journalist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Miller succeeds Jennifer Dunn, following her retirement at the end of the month, after a successful 29-year career with NNS.
Ortego joins NNS from HII’s Mission Technologies division, where he is senior vice president and general counsel. In his new role, Ortego will provide legal advice and counsel to senior management and have responsibility for overseeing and coordinating the provision of legal advice to NNS.
Images accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/two-vice-presidents-named-at-hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding/.
Before joining HII in 2013, Ortego worked in private practice and at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran. Ortego holds a Juris Doctor from the American University Washington College of Law, a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Navy War College, and a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University.
He succeeds Jon Arena, who is leaving HII at the end of the month for another career opportunity.
“I am confident Christie and Christian will provide the steadfast leadership necessary as we execute our critical national security mission at the shipyard,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson said. “NNS has benefited greatly from the stewardship of Jennifer and Jon and we wish them the best in their next chapters.”
Miller and Ortego will assume their new roles April 1.
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/148512de-0cde-4b79-95ef-5d4f41f54fed
