Newport News Shipbuilding Focuses on Veterans to Fill the Ranks
Other public and private organizations step up to help veterans navigate the job search
Newport News Shipbuilding currently employs about 25,000 people, making it Virginia’s largest industrial employer, and that workforce is set to grow substantially in the years ahead, according to Redeployable, a veteran-focused talent platform that tracks where hiring demand is expanding. In a recent press release, the company said HII is aiming to add thousands of workers each year to keep up with submarine and carrier production, with a total of roughly 19,000 to 21,000 new positions expected over the coming decade.
The jobs website says that hiring momentum picked up in April 2025, when the Navy finalized contracts worth up to $18.5 billion covering the last two Block V Virginia-class submarines, split between General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII Newport News Shipbuilding, along with funding earmarked for shipyard upgrades and pay increases for workers. A search of the job site Indeed.com shows more than a hundred positions currently listed by the shipbuilder, many of them entry-level apprentice roles.
According to Redeployable, meeting that demand won’t be simple. The company’s data shows more than half of new hires leave within their first year on the job, and with regional unemployment holding near 3.1%, employers are drawing from a shallow labor pool. Additional strain may be on the way: decisions on Block VI Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine contracts are expected by late 2026, which would add further hiring needs on top of what’s already planned. Redeployable notes that many veterans evaluating where to settle and work next aren’t aware these openings are coming, leaving little time to prepare once jobs are formally posted.
HII Newport News Shipbuilding and The Apprentice School
HII itself also markets directly to veterans looking to transition into shipbuilding careers. The company’s Newport News Shipbuilding page for military and veterans emphasizes its commitment to hiring former servicemembers and active reservists, framing shipyard work as a continuation of national service. The page features testimonials from several veteran employees who describe moving from military roles, like Navy sailors, into shipbuilding careers, highlighting a sense of pride, purpose, and familiarity with the equipment they now help build.
Shipbuilder and Navy veteran Allison Whipkey is quoted on the website as saying, “Being a prior sailor, I know what we do is important. Delivering these ships to work the way they’re supposed to work is huge.” Fellow veteran shipbuilder Kelvin White added, “I’ve lived on what I’m building now. I know the importance of every little nut and bolt. It gives me a great sense of pride to have served and now to build these ships.” The page includes a direct link to search and apply for open positions through HII’s careers portal.
The Apprentice School is central to how many of these positions get filled. Founded in 1919 and based at Newport News Shipbuilding, the school describes itself as the nation’s premier apprenticeship program, offering four- and five-year apprenticeships across nineteen shipbuilding trades and six optional programs of study. More than 800 apprentices are currently enrolled, and the program has produced over 10,000 graduates since its founding. Admission requires a high school diploma or GED with coursework in subjects such as algebra, geometry, chemistry, physics, and computer science, along with U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a government security clearance. A current listing for the Apprentice role on Indeed shows the position includes benefits such as tuition reimbursement, health, dental, and vision insurance, and an employee assistance program, underscoring the school’s role as a key pipeline for the shipyard’s skilled trades workforce, including for veterans entering the industry.
Government-Backed Veteran Employment Services
The Hampton Roads Veterans Employment Center (HRVEC), run by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, connects military spouses, student veterans, and transitioning service members with resources for employment, entrepreneurship, and support. The center notes that Hampton Roads welcomes about 18,000 new veterans and their families to the region each year and links them to resources spanning education, employment, business, healthcare, and housing. HRVEC maintains a Newport News location at 600 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite 210, in addition to its Norfolk office.
The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program is listed as a partner organization on the City of Newport News’s hiring page, connecting the city to a statewide effort focused on veteran employment. An official Commonwealth of Virginia initiative run by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, V3 works from the other side of the hiring equation by helping employers, rather than veterans, build strategies to recruit and retain former servicemembers. Authorized under state law, the program offers free training and certification to help employers connect with veterans skilled in fields such as manufacturing, skilled trades, logistics, and information technology, and certified companies can apply for a state grant tied to qualified veteran hires.
Together, these resources reflect a growing patchwork of support for veterans navigating career decisions in Hampton Roads, from employer-side initiatives like HII’s outreach and the Apprentice School’s training pipeline to region- and state-backed services like HRVEC and V3. Tools such as Redeployable’s Next Economy Hotspots map add another layer, giving veterans a way to see where major hiring demand is emerging before positions are formally posted. Taken together, they offer transitioning service members multiple starting points for lining up the training, connections, and information needed to make informed decisions about where to work and live.
Editor’s note: No compensation was received for this article.
In other news:
Virginia Peninsula Community College hosts summer cultural events at Hampton Campus. Virginia Peninsula Community College reports a month of cultural programming on its Hampton Campus featuring history, music and live theater. The college will host the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience on July 8 and 9, offering interactive exhibits about Virginia’s history as the state marks America’s 250th anniversary. A free sendoff celebration featuring Stan’s Big Band will follow on July 9 at 7 p.m. in the Dr. Mary T. Christian Theatre.
City will delay its “Stars in the Sky” Independence Day event due to expected extreme heat. Gates at Victory Landing Park now open at 7 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. The schedule includes free activities, DJ Sonny Da Goat, welcome remarks, performances by the Air Force Heritage of America Band, and fireworks at 9 p.m. Lawn chairs, blankets, strollers, and coolers are allowed; alcohol, glass, bikes, and tents are not. Free ADA/VIP and general parking is available at several nearby lots and garages. More details: nnparksandrec.org, 757-926-1400, or Newport News Parks and Recreation social media.
Newport News Waterworks is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water as drought conditions persist. A Stage 2 Drought Warning reflects below-average rainfall and low reservoir levels, with statewide conditions comparable to the driest period since 1941. Despite recent rain, drinking water supplies remain safe and compliant with standards, but early conservation helps ensure long-term reliability. Residents are urged to run full laundry/dishwasher loads, water lawns only where needed (preferably early morning), avoid midday watering, fix leaky hoses, and use efficient commercial car washes. More information and conservation tips are available on the city’s Waterworks website and social media.
Newport News is offering cooling centers as temperatures rise, urging residents to stay hydrated, use air-conditioned spaces, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Available facilities include the Pearl Bailey, Main Street, and Grissom Libraries (varying weekday/weekend hours); Brittingham-Midtown and Denbigh Community Centers (Mon-Thu 6 a.m.-9 p.m., limited weekend hours); and Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center (weekdays and Saturday afternoons). The Four Oaks Day Service Center is open daily 7 a.m.-5 p.m., and its Outreach Team will visit areas where vulnerable residents gather this week to distribute water and support during the extreme heat.
Newport News will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Grissom Library on Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m. The event takes place at 13771 Warwick Boulevard, Suite 41, Newport News, VA 23602, in the Sherwood Shopping Center area, marking the start of construction on the redesigned library facility.
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