Ingalls president leaving South MS for Virginia. New leader has worked there for 28 years
After three years as president of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Kari Wilkinson is moving to Virginia to become president of Newport News Shipbuilding.
Her successor at Ingalls is Brian Blanchette, who has served as vice president of quality and engineering at Ingalls since May 2021. He’s worked at Ingalls since 1996 and has broad experience in the company, working in technical and design engineering, program management and business development.
“Throughout my 28-year career at Ingalls, I’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from remarkable people at every level,” Blanchette said. “My focus will be to build on my predecessors’ success, particularly Kari’s, and to carry forward our strong shipbuilding legacy and honor our commitment to our nation by delivering the quality ships our service members depend on.”
Ingalls Shipbuilding recently was awarded a secured the recent $9.6 billion multi-ship procurement contract under Wilkinson’s leadership to build three San Antonio-class (LPD 17) amphibious ships. Ingalls also was awarded a contract modification for the next America-class (LHA 6) large-deck amphibious ship.
Wilkinson will succeed Jennifer Boykin, who is retiring at the end of the year after 37 years with Huntington Ingalls Industries.
The Newport News Shipyard is HII’s largest division, with 26,000 shipbuilders who design, build and maintain nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines.
