Yardlines

A Publication of Newport News Shipbuilding July 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

Crane Teams Reduce Accidents

Minnesota Reaches Pressure Hull Complete

680-Ton Bow Lift Completes CVN 78 Keel

Phot

o by

Ric

ky T

hom

pson

At 10:05 a.m. on May 24, the

whistle blew for “Big Blue” Crane

Operator Dave Rushing to begin

lifting the lower bow for the Gerald

R. Ford (CVN 78). Communicating

by radio and hand signals, riggers,

shipwrights, shipfi tters and linesmen

assisted in lowering the 680-ton, 60-

foot tall bow unit into Dry Dock 12.

Joining the lower bow to the other

ship units completes the length of the

1,092-foot aircraft carrier.

Watching their work come together

from the side of the dry dock were

Shipfi tters Richard Harris Jr., Calvin Knight, Isaac Higgs and Wesley Newcome. Their team had the lead in

building the massive lower bow.

“We started building the bow unit

about a year ago,” said Harris, who

worked from the inner bottoms all

the way up to the main deck. “It was

impressive to see the unit that we’ve

worked so hard on move from the

platen to the dry dock.”

Every shipyard trade made this

milestone possible from the cleaning

crews to pipe fi tters to electricians.

CVN 78 Construction Director Geoff Hummel said approximately 50,000

man hours of work has been put into

the construction so far by the whole

shipyard.

“Recognizing the efforts of all the

teams who made the bow unit

come together is important,” said

Newcome. “The trades gave us

people, the material teams made

sure we had material on time, and the

riggers moved the big pieces when

they were ready.”

Shipwrights Robert Balarabe, John Gateau, Matt Keller and Rob Messick

agree there were a lot of eyes on

the unit. Their shipwright team was

involved before and after the bow

was set on the keel blocks. Balarabe

said he began preparing the bow two

months before the scheduled lift.

CVN 78’s Last Keel Unit Lifted Into Place

take aBOW

Prior to moving the bow into the dry

dock, the shipwrights attached the

lift pads, removed the handrails and

secured all the openings.

Messick stressed how important

the lift preparation is. “At 6 a.m.,

the morning of the lift, we checked

everything, then we checked it again

and then we checked it again.”

After the lift, the team quickly

focused on the work required to

connect the bow to the ship. “Once

it’s on the keel blocks, that is when

our job really begins,” said Keller.

For three days following the lift,

Keller and his teammates hooked up

steamboat jacks to close any gaps

and squared things off.

When the shipbuilders completed

fi tting the bow to the rest of the ship,

the crane’s cables were disconnected

from the bow, and everyone could

move on to their next job.

On May 24, Newport News shipbuilders reached a major milestone in the modular

construction of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) aircraft carrier when they slowly lowered the

lower bow into place to complete the keel. Photo by Chris Oxley

If there is any question about what a successful team

looks like, a quick look at the team building America’s

newest submarine will clear it up. Minnesota (SSN

783), the 10th Virginia-class submarine (VCS), is due

for delivery to the Navy approximately 11 months

earlier than its contract delivery date. On May 23, the

VCS program announced that the ship was “pressure

hull complete,” a term signifying the joining of the

ship’s hull sections into a single, watertight unit.

“Pressure hull complete is a major evolution in the

ship’s construction,” said Lowton “L.A.” White, a 24-

year veteran submarine welder. “Now access to the

ship is limited, and everything is permanent. It means

we are almost done.” Pressure hull complete is one

of the last major milestones before the submarine’s

christening this fall.

With these statistics, it is easy to wonder, “What are

they doing differently?” Darryle Knight, a shipfi tter in

the VCS program, has been working on submarines

for 38 years. “I remember building Los Angeles-class

submarines in my early days at the yard, and the way

we build Virginia-class subs is simply more effi cient.

We have eliminated rework. That’s why I think we’re

ahead of schedule,” he said.

Syretta Brown, an electrician with six years

experience, has been impressed by the teamwork

on Minnesota. “From my experience working on the

last three subs, this has been the smoothest by far.

It’s actually surprising to see the statistics on how

ahead we are, because we don’t feel rushed. We’re

just following the plan.” In fact, Minnesota celebrated

pressure hull complete two months earlier in its

contract delivery schedule than the last Newport

News-delivered submarine, USS California.

Because of the early deliveries, the VCS program

is gaining a reputation of being a highly-effi cient

workforce. However, Ceferino Bersonda, a pipefi tter

and recent Apprentice School graduate, thinks they

are more than just effi cient. “It seems like we all know

each other. We work closely together…it feels like a

second family. In my opinion, we are ahead because of

that dynamic; we communicate well with each other,

and get each other what we need when we need it.”

Jim Hughes, NNS’ vice president of Submarines and

Fleet Support, agreed. “Our shipbuilders and our

partners at Electric Boat have put a lot of hard work

into this boat, and it shows. Their work ethic and

commitment to quality is evident in every aspect of the

construction process and the results attained thus far.”

WATERTIGHT

Minnesota (SSN 783) sits in the Module Outfi tting

Facility (MOF) with a temporary enclosure around the

bow unit that controls the environment in the room

during hull treatment. The ship is now 81 percent

complete. Photo by Chris Oxley

For Tony Davis, welding isn’t just a job. And it isn’t simply

a skill he’s acquired.

“It’s an art to me,” said the 38-year shipyard veteran who

co-workers call “The Legend.”

Davis has been welding since before he was old enough

to drive, having trained in the profession at a vocational

school before coming to work at Newport News. The

shipyard placed him in the burning department when he

arrived, but he convinced Human Resources to move him

to welding.

“I told them I liked welding and I would be of more

benefi t to them in that area,” he said. And he was.”I’ve

been welding ever since.”

But going from welder to “legend” took something more

than just an aptitude for the job. It took a lot of pride, said

Davis, something instilled in him at an early age.

As a youngster his dad would make him cut the grass,

and if Davis didn’t do a good job, his dad would send him

back out to do it again. “He would tell me if you are going

to do something, then try to do it right.”

Over the years, Davis has mastered all forms of welding

techniques and any new welding technologies that came

along during his nearly four decades of building ships.

He’s worked on submarines, aircraft carriers, tankers,

cargo ships and cruise ships. “Just about every ship that

came to the shipyard,” he said.

On one particular day, Davis remembered he was

welding on a ship, using three mirrors to ensure the job

was done right. A co-worker stopped to watch what he

was doing and told him he was good—that he was a

“legend.” Then she wrote that word on his tool box. And

the name stuck. “Everywhere I go

they say ‘here comes The Legend,’”

said Davis.

Today, what Davis enjoys the most

is sharing what he’s learned. “I like

helping other people, seeing them

progress and gain confi dence in

themselves. I know I’ve showed this

guy something and now he can pass

it on.”

But before he takes on new pupils,

he fi rst asks them if they take pride in

their work. “If they do, then I’ll show

them everything. But if they don’t

want to learn it right, then I’ll tell

them they’re wasting my time.”

And the young welders keep coming

to Davis, asking for his help. “If you

show one person, it’s like a chain

reaction,” he said.

That’s the legacy Davis wants to

leave in his wake.

THEY

CALL HIM

“THE LEGEND”

During his nearly four decades at the shipyard,

Tony Davis’ (left) artistry as a welder and mentor to new

shipbuilders has earned him the nickname “The Legend.”

Davis took Welder Terry Bryan Jr. (right) under his wing

three years ago. Photo by Ricky Thompson

It’s ALL in the

PLANIn April, crane teams from across the shipyard came

together to celebrate their latest achievement—no, not

another superlift, but their best accident reduction record

to date. 

Dial back a few years, and no one at Newport News

Shipbuilding (NNS) was celebrating the Lifting and

Handling (L&H) team’s accident record. By industry

standards, it was better than most— but it wasn’t good

enough for NNS, who wanted to be the mark that all

others were measured against. 

Waterfront Support Services Trades Director Robert Chappell Sr. set out on a mission to lead L&H operations

to be the safest in the industry.  

“We wanted everyone to know we were the best,”

said Chappell. “We examined each step in the process

and every one of our procedures. Then we began

documenting all the lifts our teams were performing, and

we made it a requirement to have a detailed lift plan in

place for all projects. We also increased training for the

lift teams at all levels.”

In 2011, the L&H teams performed more than one million

lifts with 37 accidents. That’s almost a 40% reduction in

accidents over 2010 while making almost 150,000 more

lifts. “Our true measure of success is keeping our people

safe, Chappell explained. “Since August 2011, the teams

have made more than 989,000 lifts without an injury. Our

last crane-related injury in July 2011, a bruised fi nger,

ended a two-year, two-million lifts, injury-free record.”

During the L&H celebration, the Foundry’s lift team

received the “Top Gun” award for the team with the best

safety record. In 2011, they had one accident, down from

six in 2010.

Moving to the new L&H lift-plan requirement did not

come without some grumbling from inside the yard. 

“Change is always diffi cult,” said Rob Robinson, a crane

operator in the Covered Module Assembly Facility. “A lot

of guys thought the new planning process would slow

them down and put their projects behind schedule.” 

However, the lift plans are proving to be a roadmap to

success. Last year, L&H teams completed 15.5 percent

more lifts with fewer accidents than in 2010. 

“If we have an accident during a lift, we have to stop

everything,“ said Ed Sullivan, one of the lead crane

operators on the Foundry’s L&H Top Gun team. “We

are more successful when we stick to the plan and don’t

deviate from it. There’s more down time on a project if

there’s an accident than we would ever spend developing

and focusing on the lift plan.”

A standardized form is used to formulate a lift plan. The

form not only provides the what, where and weight of

the lift, but it also includes the lift sequence, position

of the lift points, what gear is required, lift calculations,

comments and photographs from previous lifts. 

“Most people think lifting is just a physical job,” said

Crane Operator Jerry Carr. “The job requires a lot more

mental focus, precision and communication. We have to

get the calculations right and everyone has to be on the

same page.”

L&H continues to set high expectations and goals for

itself. Each year, the team is given an accident reduction

goal. But the true goal is, and always will be, zero.  

“As good as our record is today, we can always do more

to improve,” said Sullivan. “We have to stay focused,

work as a team, communicate with each other and, very

importantly, stick to the plan.”

Crane team members (L to R) Rob Roberson, Christopher Sparno, Jerry Carr,

Rob Wolfe, Patrick Peck, and Derek Arsenault review the plan for a scheduled lift

outside the Covered Module Assembly Facility (CMAF). Photo by John Whalen

The weather was perfect as

employees and their families

gathered under the shadow of

the VASCIC building on Saturday

morning, May 19. They came

to downtown Newport News

to participate in the annual 5K,

coordinated by HealthWaves, the

shipyard’s wellness provider. A

whistle blow at 9:00 a.m. signaled

the start as 1,000 people began the

fi ve-kilometer stretch along the

shipyard.

The event was more than a race.

With activities for children, massage

stations, and Foodbank donations,

the 5K was more about community

than competition. Danielle Osborne,

a pipefi tter on Gerald R. Ford, had

never been in a 5K before. “I thought

it was nice. I came with my boyfriend

and kids. All the booths made it

really fun for the kids.”

Still, some came with the intent

of winning; David Woodson,

family member of a shipbuilder,

ran the race in 16 minutes 35

seconds, fi nishing fi rst. A different

competition was also taking place,

not for the fastest time but for the

highest numbers. The Challenge Cup

is given each year to the Newport

News Shipbuilding program with

the most people registered. Jennifer Boykin, vice president of Engineering

and Design, took the trophy home

with more than 400 of her engineers

present.

Some came to compete with

themselves. One of the 400

engineers, Tom Herbert, who had

a stress fracture in his left leg,

walked the entire fi ve kilometers on

crutches. “I had signed up before I

found out about my leg, and I just

didn’t want to use it as an excuse.

It helped that our vice president

had hinted at her desire to win the

trophy, but I really wanted to prove

to myself that I could do it. So I did.”

One thousand employees and family members begin

the fi ve-kilometer stretch in Victory Landing Park with the

VASCIC building behind them. Photo by Ricky Thompson

runfun

27,000 reactor start-ups and shutdowns…

37,500 engine room start-ups and shutdowns…

150,000 written exams…

And 500,000 watches stood.

Those are just a few of the accomplishments that led to a

milestone celebration at the Kesselring Site this spring.

On May 29, hundreds of sailors, civilian employees and

Navy personnel gathered at the Kesselring Site’s Naval

Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) in Saratoga County,

New York, to witness the graduation of the nuclear

training program’s 50,000th graduate, Jenna Swindt. The

Kesselring Site—the longest operational NPTU—is the

fi rst U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit to reach this

major milestone. Following graduation, the sailors will be

assigned to the Navy’s fl eet of nuclear submarines and

aircraft carriers.

Adm. Kirkland Donald, Director of Naval Nuclear

Propulsion, attended the event and praised the faculty

and students at the site. “This is tough shore duty,” he

said to the staff. “What you’re doing is making a real

difference in the future of our Navy. For our students,

you’ve made something greater of yourselves and you

will make something greater of our United States Navy.”

Newport News Shipbuilding assumed responsibility for

maintenance services at the Kesselring Site earlier this

year. Under the contract, NNS provides maintenance

on the two nuclear reactor prototypes at the site. Kent Williams, NNS’ director of Nuclear Engineering and

Kesselring Site director, said the ceremony reinforced

the importance of the work they perform each day at the

site and its connection back to the work performed at the

shipyard.

“The submarines and aircraft carriers we build in

Newport News are the most complex ships in the world,”

Williams said. “With that complexity comes strict

standards, exceptional quality and countless hours of

training for the sailors who will operate them. Much of

that training is performed here at the Kesselring Site, and

it is our responsibility to ensure all systems are operating

correctly, and that when they need maintenance, the

work is performed safely, with the highest quality, and on

schedule.”

Like the work performed in Newport News, the work at

the Kesselring Site also contributes to national security.

This was noted at the ceremony by Thomas D’Agostino,

undersecretary for Nuclear Security and administrator of

the National Nuclear Security Administration. He told the

audience that in a world of mundane jobs, they work with

some of the most exciting technology. “Your work has

real meaning,” he said. “You are serving your country

and something larger than yourself.”

50,000…AND COUNTING

Jenna Swindt, the 50,000th nuclear-trained sailor to graduate from the Knolls

Atomic Power Laboratory’s Kesselring Site in West Milton, is congratulated by Adm.

Kirkland Donald, (left), Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion. Earlier this year, Newport

News Shipbuilding assumed responsibility for maintenance on the two nuclear reactor

prototypes at the Kesselring Site. Photo by Ricky Thompson

Eric C. Johnson

40 years

Peter M. Bower

40 years

Gerald D. Holland

40 years

Roscoe M. Duck

40 years

Melton W. Mitchell

40 years

Larry D. Parks

40 years

Tony L. Joyner

40 years

Lawnsie F. Brown

40 years

Richard S. Ivens

45 years

Vernon R. Craig

40 years

Horace G. Milteer III

40 years

Julius M. Heckstall

45 years

Bill R. Griffi n Jr.

40 years

Granville S. Moore III

40 years

Zeke C. Cook Jr.

40 years

Vernal Banks

40 years

David B. Hogge

45 years

Clyde A. Moore

40 years

Long ServiceMASTER SHIPBUILDERS

Terry L. Kurnas

40 years

Melvin Branch

40 years

Coloris M. Jones

45 years

Ernestine T. Hawkins

40 years

Bert L. Boone

40 years

William R. Griffi n Jr.

40 years

Timothy J. Miller

40 years

Johnnie F. Myers Jr.

40 years

Charles E. Hodges

40 years

Thurston Gore

40 years

Jerold H. Heard

40 years

Ellison E. Jones

45 years

John N. Meadows Jr.

50 years

Daniel P. Crehan Jr.

40 years

Jim C. Fike

40 years

Richard T. Holley

40 years

Steve Moody

40 years

Richard A. Jordan

45 years

JUNE

Arthur L. White

40 years

Marvin L. Ruffi n

40 years

Mark K. Tessarolo

40 years

Jimmy L. Shoulars

40 years

Betty K. Smithwick

40 years

Thomas Smith

40 years

Bob J. Schaffner

40 years

William L. Rains Jr.

45 years

Duane L. Smith

40 years

Long ServiceMASTER SHIPBUILDERS

D’Arcy E. Phillips Jr.

40 years

Aaron E. Whitaker

40 years

Melvin Stallings

40 years

Ira T. Tate

40 years

John W. Tardy III

40 years

Robert H. Williams

40 years

Thomas L. Suits

40 years

John T. Wiggis Jr

45 years

John H. Perkins

40 years

Melvin J. Williams

40 years

David O. Thompson

40 years

JUNE

50 YEARSJohn N. Meadows Jr. E18

45 YEARSGary E. Blake X82Thomas D. Diggs Jr. E75Charles W. Epps Jr. O53Walter I. Fortenberry O31Julius M. Heckstall X43David B. Hogge X82Richard S. Ivens E83Coloris M. Jones O24Ellison E. Jones X36Richard A. Jordan E25William L. Rains Jr. X33Thomas L. Ruffi n X31Paul W. Soter X31Paul Weidmann E25John T. Wiggins Jr. X33 40 YEARSJames M. Albert Jr. O46Larry E. Baker X33Vernal Banks O67Michael K. Barley O38

Bert L. Boone X18Peter M. Bower X18Melvin Branch X18David M. Bristow M53Lawnsie F. Brown X33Jannings B. Caldwell X70Robert W. Chappell O40Ezekiel C. Cook Jr. X33Vernon R. Craig X71Daniel P. Crehan Jr. O53Roscoe M. Duck X31Charles R. Eason O53Dana A. Ferrell O04James C. Fike O21Daniel R. Fontaine X72Howard T. Gore X50Willis A. Griffi n O46William R. Griffi n Jr. O46David R. Hastings X36Ernestine T. Hawkins O95Jerold H. Heard O43Charles E. Hodges Jr. X31Gerald D. Holland X42Richard T. Holley X33Eric C. Johnson X36

Danny R. Jones O64Tony L. Joyner X36Louis D. Knight X11Terry L. Kurnas O57Michael E. Lowrie X82Lemuel L. Mathias X32Timothy J. Miller O43Horace G. Milteer III X70Melton W. Mitchell X18Steven Moody K78Clyde A. Moore X18Granville S. Moore III O41Johnnie F. Myers Jr. X88Larry D. Parks X10John H. Perkins X42D’Arcy E. Phillips Jr. T55Marvin L. Ruffi n X18Robert J. Schaffner E75Jimmy L. Shoulars X33Duane L. Smith X88Thomas Smith X33William S. Smith X31Betty K. Smithwick O81Melvin Stallings X18Thomas L. Suits X70

John W. Tardy III X88Ira T. Tate O38Johnny W. Temple N206Mark K. Tessarolo E84David O. Thompson X11James A. Ward X73Aaron E. Whitaker X32Arthur L. White X31Melvin J. Williams X42Robert H. Williams O57 35 YEARSJack E. Ammons X18James R. Anderson X89Richard L. Arnt Jr. O54Jeffrey S. Asby E39Albert L. Askew X11Allan L. Baker X18Lawrence E. Barnett X67Patrick O. Blackmon X88Jacqueline Brown X18Gerald W. Bruso Jr. O67Stephen W. Casey O41Kevin M. Charity X36Moses Cherry Jr. X18

Donnie Custis X36Larry D. Deaver X10Jeffery L. Dent O43Carlton D. Dillard X11Michael J. Emanuel X54William L. English Jr. X88Jackie L. Evans X18Milton T. Evans O64James V. Figgs O43Leroy Flagler X31Andy Flood X11Tony D. Fox X11Jeffery E. Futrell X42Vernon R. Gardner Jr. X18Ralph B. Grogins X18James E. Hall O04Joseph A. Harrell X11Ricky T. Harris X11Robert S. Haynes X11Jimmy W. Holland X11Chester L. Holliman X18Craig D. Jacox O53Stanley L. Jones X18Edward L. Knight X33Robert L. Knightnor X18

Ray D. Lane X10Scotty B. Leggett X18Troy M. Massey X18William G. Mayo X18Margaret C. McCoy X10Isaiah C. McHerrin X32Michael C. Miller X88James E. Norfl eet Jr. X11Paula M. Overman-Lewis O14Gwendolyn T. Perry O43Deborah M. Pittman O27Paul B. Porter X18John M. Portlock Jr. O19Ronnie W. Pretlow X18Andra J. Pryear O43Neil J. Rawles M53Brian E. Ribblett X18Corbin L. Robbins Jr. O26Arthur L. Rogers X11Mary L. Scheepers O53Daniel R. Scott X88Carlton B. Sessoms X18Harry R. Smith Jr. X11Ollie D. Spratley X32

continued on next page

Karl Tarves X10William C. Taylor X18Larry J. Trantham O67Roderick Turner X11Barbara V. Umberger X11Bernard W. Wild III X11Mary L. Wilson E83 30 YEARSDonald G. Aleshire X43Tommy A. Alley Jr. X42Calvin D. Atkins X36Henry L. Beale X71Suzanne M. Beckstoffer E90Bruce R. Beers E12Rodger L. Bennett E83Kenneth R. Bethea E15Earl K. Bolden X76Andrew G. Bonney O48John E. Brock Jr. X31Fredrick R. Brown E68Kevin R. Bull E82Fred A. Caccavale O19Jacob W. Caplinger III E86Donald E. Carawan X88Robert W. Carmine X18

Lawrence S. Carter Jr. O79Wayne A. Cary X18Carl A. Christensen X72Michael T. Claude X11Gregory A. Connor X11Tony K. Cooper X42John D. Cowley III E86Charles S. Davenport X42Daryl L. Davis X33Peter S. Deal X84Vincent L. Dixon X73Joseph A. Domday E83Samuel L. Dunn III X11Willie M. Earley III E81Brenda J. Ellingsworth X36Calvin H. Farthing Jr. X10David A. Galinski O48Lee P. Gibboney E86Robert B. Gibson III X71Marcia A. Gilliam X73Gregory A. Giordano E72Steven W. Griffey X10Donald T. Grogan X18Terry L. Hargett E82Morris Harrell X36Michael E. Hathaway E51David J. Hayes X18

Mitchell L. Hilliard X43David W. Holloway O53Steven W. Horner X11Benjamin P. Hulvey X43Howard R. Ingram E25Richard G. Jenkins O54Spencer K. Jenkins X10Mark T. Jones M53Robert B. Jones X36Melvin R. Jordan Jr. X11Paul W. Kania E51Michael E. Kearney X43Jerry L. Keast E18Jeanne Kesner E71Kathy I. Kiehner O14John K. Knemeyer E86James L. Langford E86Stacey D. Lilley X10Reginald Love O39Oliver C. Lupton III O43Kenneth H. McBurney X88James B. Meadows E74Ernestine Mitchell O53Harold L. Mitchell Jr. X10Paul A. Moore X42Darryl K. Mullen K78Eldridge H. Northstein M53

Donald K. Ogburn O46Lloyd A. Ormon E74Quintin A. Owens X18Warren L. Owens O54Aaron W. Park E24Dennis J. Perkins X42Charles J. Pierce O39Brian L. Pollard E46James T. Rentz X10Lisa G. Ricciardi E73Reginald W. Richardson X31Gerald K. Robertson X32Travis D. Robinson X10Thomas J. Rowe X42George W. Ryalls X67Frederick K. Saalbach O46Francis W. Saloka Jr. X88John W. Schultz X10Edward J. Schweiger E84Henry L. Scott X36Troy L. Shanholtz O46Velvet A. Silver K93Scott W. Sirrine E83John M. Slade Jr. E62Robert W. Small E45Lorenza Smith X36Paul H. Soule X89

David E. Soult X42Curtis R. Stephens E15Blake K. Stewart X43Joseph W. Stickle Jr. E85Ben J. Talbott E83Paul E. Toth O48Mark E. Twine X43Michael K. Upton X82Michael C. Veit X83Randall W. Wadford X10Suzette R. Walker X73Rex A. Wallen K76David W. Waltrip X88Gail A. Warner E27Leonard E. Waters X18Timothy L. Watkins X18Bruce E. Watson X32Kelly L. Werner E83John E. Whalen O29David E. Whitaker X36Junious A. Wilkerson X33Ann J. Willis O67 25 YEARSSamuel H. Barnett E58Allen D. Cason E17Virgilio G. Daus E26

Sophia L. Delk T55Bill R. Ermatinger N300John D. Figg X58Michael T. Gannon E75Nathaniel G. Gilbert E13Greg L. Guilford E14Roderick L. Hall X87Jeffrey C. Hammack E26Glenn D. Hammett E17Mark T. Irving O82Gerald R. Johnson X82Thomas K. Jones T53David W. Lambert O30Robert P. Minter E21Robert A. Packard E51Mike Petters N300Zach W. Quidley E84Velton L. Shaw O88Michael J. Wallace E81James H. Watt X58John A. Zecher E75

20 YEARSJohn J. Loch X73Amy L. Porter X42Michael D. Sheldon X54Donald S. Willard X89

RetirementsMAY

Darnell O. Anthony X11David L. Baker X11William E. Bateman E27Melvin B. Bell X42

James L. Boone X33Roger Butler Jr. X11Joseph F. Cherry X11Michael M. Clevenger E51

Robert L. Copeland X42Daniel L. Fitzpatrick X36John T. Hill X11Donald J. Kent M30*

Henry R. Lawrence X11Malcolm F. Mann O39Glenn R. Owens X32Hollis H. Palmer Jr. E65

Hayes C. Robinson Jr. X31Herbert J. Smith E84George R. Thomas X43Walter E. Thompson X42

Earl J. Vaughan X36Claudette J. Washington O43Brian V. White E42Alvin Wilson E22

Long ServiceMASTER SHIPBUILDERS JUNE

Hot weather can sometimes be

really stressful and dangerous.

Follow these practical tips from

HealthWaves to stay injury-free this

summer:

• Drink plenty of non-caffeinated

drinks. Being thirsty is a sign of

dehydration, so don’t wait until

you’re thirsty! The rule of thumb is

about one half to a full cup every 15

to 20 minutes or so.

• Keep your hands dry and your

safety glasses clear. Slippery hands

from sweat and fogged safety

glasses can cause an accident.

• Eat lightly – hot foods and heavy

meals can decrease your body’s

resistance to heat-related illnesses.

Salads and fruits are best.

• Be sure to wear sunscreen when

working outside. Sunburn affects

your body’s ability to cool itself and

causes a loss of body fl uids.

• Monitor the condition of your co-

workers when working in the heat,

and have someone do the same for

you. Heat-related symptoms to look

for are heart pounding, gasping

for breath, lightheadedness,

confusion, weakness and fainting. 

• If you or a co-worker experience

heat-related symptoms, move to a

cooler area, drink fl uids, and seek

medical attention if the condition

does not improve.

Summer Safety

* Retired in April

Whether it is to celebrate a cancer survivor or to honor

a loved one’s memory, Newport News Shipbuilders,

including the African American Shipbuilding Association

(AASA), Apprentice School Student Association (ASSA),

Apprentice Alumni Association (AAA), Women in

Shipbuilding Enterprises, and Lady Shipbuilders, have

been supporting local American Cancer Society Relay for

Life events since the late 1980s.

This year, the “Cure Builders” team, formed by members

of AAA and ASSA, contributed more than $2,000 to the

Newport News relay. Kimberly Jordan, AAA Relay for

Life Chair, lends support to survivors and those fi ghting

in honor of her grandmother’s victory over cancer.

Stephanie Cherry has also been personally affected by

cancer. Cherry, a fi fth-time Hampton Relay participant

said her father’s death inspired her to fundraise to fi ght

for more survivors, and more research and treatment

options. “My father died from brain cancer in 2000,”

Cherry said. “It was diffi cult for me and my family, so I do

what I can to support Relay for Life.”

The AASA understands the importance of reaching

fundraising goals to bring about a change. “The health of

our community is a big concern for AASA,” said Tammy Smith, the organization’s relay captain. “By using our

collective talents and joining the fi ght, we can have a

greater impact on the battle against cancer.”  

For NNS participants, Relay for Life is a 12-hour event,

but only a small part of a 365-day campaign against

cancer. Donations will be collected until Aug. 31. More

information is available at relayforlife.org

Fighting Against Cancer

Making a Difference Making a Difference

Shipbuilders (L to R) Calvin Holloway, Angel Averett, Laneisha Jenkins,

Karla Hamrick, Tammy Smith, Kimberly Jordan, Christina Butler and Carlton

Dillard participated in the June 23 Newport News Relay For Life.

Photo by Dar Deerfi eld Mook

Yardlines is published 10 times a year for the employees of Newport News Shipbuilding.

This issue of Yardlines was produced by: Jordan Bryan, Gina Chew-Holman, Troy Cooper, Mike Dillard, Christie Miller,

Eugene Phillips, LaMar Smith, Peter Stern, Susan Sumner and Lauren Ward. Additional writing services by Barlow Communications.

Photographs by: Chris Oxley, Ricky Thompson and John Whalen

Send comments, questions and story ideas to Yardlines editor: gina.chewholman@hii-nns.com or call 757-380-2627.

To stop receiving Yardlines, go to nns.huntingtoningalls.com/Yardlines to unsubscribe.

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July 2012

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A crowd of nearly 7,500 attended the commissioning ceremony on Sat., June 2 at the Port of Pascagoula in Mississippi for the Navy’s newest, most modern nuclear-powered

Virginia-class submarine. The 7,800-ton USS Mississippi (SSN 782) is the ninth submarine in its class to be built under a partnership agreement between Newport News

Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat. The submarine is the fi fth ship named for Mississippi and it was delivered to the Navy one year early and under budget.

Allison Stiller, the ship’s sponsor and deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for ship programs, gave the traditional commissioning order. “Without further ado, offi cers and crew of

USS Mississippi, man our ship and bring her to life.” The 145-member crew ran to the 377-foot-long submarine with a cheer, and fi lled the decks. Photo by U.S. Navy

USS MISSISSIPPI JOINS NAVY FLEET