Senior enlisted leaders from the U.S. Marine Corps have visited HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, as the service and shipbuilder look to strengthen pathways from active duty into long-term civilian work in shipbuilding.
HII said the visit focused on building a direct transition pipeline for Marines leaving service, and highlighted Ingalls’ long-standing relationship with the Marine Corps as a builder of amphibious warships for the U.S. Navy.
During the tour, Marine Corps leaders met Ingalls leadership and visited the Maritime Training Academy to review apprenticeship and career development programs. They also toured areas of the shipyard, including the amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8), to observe ship construction and associated trades work.
Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said the company sees Marines’ discipline and technical aptitude as skills that can transfer into shipbuilding work, and that the company is looking to expand civilian career pathways for transitioning service members.
Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, the 20th sergeant major of the Marine Corps, said the visit supported collaboration on a pipeline to help Marines move into shipbuilding roles after leaving the military, drawing on skills gained in service.
HII said it employs more than 6,700 veterans across its divisions and views veteran hiring as a contributor to workforce capacity in shipbuilding and related programs.
