Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, kicked off its 130th anniversary celebration yesterday, January 28.
As a sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy submarines, the company said it would celebrate the anniversary throughout 2016 with commemorative videos and employee publications. More than 100 local businesses, museums, schools and civic leaders provided congratulatory video messages that will be released each week throughout the year.
Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin said: “As shipbuilders, we are privileged to be part of the storied legacy that Collis P. Huntington began 130 years ago. From the signing of our first contract in 1890, each generation of shipbuilders has made significant contributions to advance the highly skilled craft of shipbuilding. Today, we are writing our own chapter of the Newport News Shipbuilding story. The hard work shipbuilders are doing today will set the path for the shipbuilders of tomorrow.”
Newport News was founded by Collis P. Huntington on January 28, 1886. Originally named the Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company, the shipyard’s first delivery was the tugboat Dorothy. Since Dorothy, Newport News has built more than 800 ships for the Navy and non-defense customers.
The company built the first Navy vessel designed as an aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV 4), and the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
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