March 28 - Ingalls Shipbuilding - Huntington Ingalls Industries

Women’s History Month ProfileChristie Thomas, director, BusinessDevelopment, Coast Guard Programs.Honoring NationalWomen’s History Month inMarch, Ingalls Shipbuildinghas profiled a few of thecompany’s female leadersin Centerline. This week’sprofile focuses on ChristieThomas director, BusinessDevelopment, Coast GuardPrograms.Thomas’ team is focusedon continuing the NationalSecurity Cutter productionline and winning a designcontract for the OffshorePatrol Cutter.A native of Pennsylvania,Christie earned herbachelor’s degree ineconomics from Bucknell University and an MBA in finance fromState University of New York, Binghamton.Thomas shares a busy life with husband, Nick Thomas,director, Strategy and Business Development, HII AvondaleIndustries. They are raising three children, Nick Jr., who will soongraduate from USM, 13-year-old Sara and 5-year-old Sophia.“Life for us often revolves around the shipyard,” Christie said.“But we have a good understanding of one another’s businessneeds. When either of us has to travel or to work long hours andweekends, the other is ready to pull his or her weight at home. It’svery important to have that family support.”Women’s Health FairThomas has supported the defense industry through her workfor nearly 20 years. She came to Ingalls Shipbuilding seven yearsago in Business Management and gained a variety of experiencein many areas of the business.“I’m an advocate for lateral moves and rotational programsand getting a breadth of experience in different areas,” she said.“Doing so allows you to connect the dots on what drives thebusiness.”To truly gain insight into shipbuilding, Thomas adds that it’simportant to travel south of the fence, walk the ships and talk tothe men and women building our products.“There are a wide variety of jobs and positions for women inour industry,” she said.Thomas said that productivity and leadership are essential forwomen striving to prove that they can perform certain jobs ascapably as men.“To gain the respect you deserve, it’s important to be a highperformer and deliver results,” said Thomas. “Be professionaland be your authentic self. Doing these things consistently over along time will build that respect. “Thomas said that bringing everyone around the table,regardless of economic or ethnic background, will benefit thecompany in the long run. She was one of the founding membersof Women in Northrop Grumman (WiNGs), which evolved intoWomen in Shipbuilding Enterprises (WISE), now an Ingallsemployee resource group which she advises.“If we only have input from people from a single demographic,we will likely get the same solutions from all of them,” she said.“If we include a diversity of people in our decision making, we’llhave a greater chance of getting different and better solutions.”HealthWaves program manager Joni Goodman,right, shares women’s health information withBonita Smith, procurement analyst, during aWomen’s Health Fair held March 26 at ARAMARKCafeteria in Pascagoula. In addition to a widerange of information on women’s health issues,the fair offered a blood pressure check andhealthy snacks.

HII Chairman honored by U.S. Naval AcademyRetired U.S. Navy Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, chairman of the Huntington IngallsIndustries board of directors, received the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association’sDistinguished Graduate Award March 22. The award is given to Naval Academygraduates who have committed to a lifetime of service and made significantcontributions to the academy, the Navy, Marine Corps and the nation.Other notable recipients of the Distinguished Graduate Award include retired U.S.Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; formerpresidential candidate and businessman H. Ross Perot; former NFL quarterback andbusinessman Roger T. Staubach; retired U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut JamesA. Lovell; and U.S. Navy Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, whose namesake ship, USSWilliam P. Lawrence (DDG 110) was built at Ingalls.Fargo graduated from the Naval Academy in 1970 and selected service in thenuclear-powered submarine community. He served as commander in chief, U.S.Pacific Fleet; commander, U.S. Pacific Command; and was awarded the Vice Adm.James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership. He serves on the NavalAcademy Foundation board of directors and has served as HII’s chairman since 2011.For more information about Fargo, read his HII biography athttp://www.huntingtoningalls.com/about/fargo.Shipbuilders participate in weekend walksOn March 23, more than a dozen Ingalls shipbuilders and some oftheir family members participated in the Multiple Sclerosis “Join theMovement” Walk along Front Beach in Ocean Springs.Members of Supply Chain Management were part of the 300-plus IngallsShipbuilding employees who participated in the annual Jackson County HeartWalk at Pascagoula’s Beach Park March 23. Ingalls Shipbuilding exceeded itsfundraising goal of $40,000 for the American Heart Association.Mandatory anti-harassment training scheduledIngalls Shipbuilding is committed to providing a work environment in which every person is treated with fairness, dignity andrespect. The company recognizes unlawful harassment and, in particular, sexual and racial harassment, as a serious form of illegaldiscrimination.Ingalls Shipbuilding will not tolerate harassing behavior in any form. To further this commitment, mandatory anti-harassmentrefresher training will be held throughout 2013. This training is designed to educate and remind all employees about the company’santi-harassment policy and to reinforce the company’s stance on harassment. All current employees are required to complete thetraining.Employees who have computer access will be required to complete a web-based training module through LX. Directions andcompletion deadlines will follow. Represented employees will be required to attend an instructor-led class. Class schedules, timeand locations will be distributed to management throughout the year.