Kari Wilkinson will take over as the new president of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in the new year as Jennifer Boykin retires, the company announced today.
Boykin, the current president, will retire on Jan. 1 and remain at Newport News for the first three months of the year during the transition, according to a company news release. Boykin informed the company this year that she would retire, but it’s unclear when that happened.
“HII has a long-term succession planning process working with our Board of Directors, and it was through that process that Kari Wilkinson and Brian Blanchette were elected,” a spokesperson for HII told USNI News. “We are thankful for Jennifer’s 37 years of leadership and dedication – she will be greatly missed by shipbuilders and her colleagues across HII.”
Wilkinson has been the president of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., since 2021 and has worked at the company since 1996.
“I join the Newport News team with deep respect for its nuclear culture, commitment to safety, and an exceptional legacy further strengthened by Jennifer and the NNS team,” Wilkinson said in a statement.
“I am fully committed to advancing our mission in support of our Sailors, their families, and for all of us who depend on them for freedom and security.”
Brian Blanchette will take over as the new president of Ingalls, which builds U.S. Navy destroyers and amphibious warships at its Mississippi yard. He has been the vice president of quality and engineering at Ingalls for the last three years.
News of Boykin’s retirement follows a turbulent few months for Newport News. In a somber earnings call last week, HII pulled back its revenue targets for the year, citing a stalled contract with the Navy for 17 submarines. There is also an ongoing internal investigation into suspected faulty welds on aircraft carriers and submarines built at Newport News. The Navy and the Department of Justice have been informed of the internal probe at HII.
“You will not find a more loyal advocate than Jennifer for her shipbuilders and the Hampton Roads community,” HII chief executive officer Chris Kastner said in a news release. “Kari’s leadership has steered Ingalls Shipbuilding into its next phase of growth, having secured serial production contracts for both the destroyer and amphibious ship programs. She is a tremendous leader and now brings her great energy and expertise to Newport News.”
