Case Study: Newport News Ship Building achieves stronger employee engagement and honors Master Shipbuilders with O.C. Tanner

Celebrating mastery at Newport News Shipbuilding

Newport News Shipbuilding, a 126‑year‑old yard that employs 21,000 people to design and build nuclear‑powered U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines, faced the challenge of sustaining extreme levels of craft mastery, safety and institutional knowledge across multi‑generation workforces for programs that span up to a decade. The company needed to keep employees engaged, retain specialized skills, and bridge the gap between senior craftsmen and younger engineers to ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery.

Newport News invested in on‑site training, night school programs, a fully credited apprentice school and career pathways, and formal recognition programs that celebrate service milestones—culminating in a longstanding 40‑year "Master Shipbuilder" gala with distinctive blazers, pins and leadership ceremonies. The approach reinforced a culture of pride and mentorship, producing measurable legacy outcomes: 720 Master Shipbuilders honored this year (301 new inductees, 35 with 50+ years), a combined 30,762 years of service, deepened engagement and stronger cross‑generational collaboration on major programs.

Newport News Ship Building

Chavis Harris

Director, EEO Diversity and Corporate Citizenship