September 17, 2025
PASCAGOULA, Miss., Sept. 17, 2025 — HII (NYSE: HII) hosted Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division Wednesday. During his visit, Smith met with Ingalls leadership and toured the shipyard, including America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8).
“The skills and dedication of our Ingalls shipbuilders were on full display during this visit and I am proud of the critical role our team plays in supporting the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy mission,” said Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president. “Our amphibious programs remain one of our highest priorities and we are fully committed to delivering the most advanced ships to the fleet.”
This visit marked the third time Smith has toured Ingalls Shipbuilding as the commandant. While at Ingalls, Smith spoke on the broader importance of amphibious capability to the fleet and expressed his appreciation for the workforce at Ingalls.
“The construction of these ships is vital to our national interest,” said Smith. “The work done here in this shipyard by these workers directly supports the Navy and Marine Corps in our ability to project power and serve as a global naval expeditionary force.”
Ingalls currently has two LHAs under construction including Bougainville (LHA 8) and Fallujah (LHA 9) and three Flight II LPDs under construction including Harrisburg (LPD 30), Pittsburgh (LPD 31) and Philadelphia (LPD 32). Additionally, in September 2024, the Navy awarded Ingalls a contract for the construction of three San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships (LPD 33, LPD 34 and LPD 35) and a contract modification for the fifth America-class amphibious assault ship, Helmand Province (LHA 10).
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding hosted Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, at the shipyard Wednesday. During his visit, Smith met with Ingalls leadership and toured the shipyard, including America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8).
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding hosted Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, at the shipyard Wednesday. During his visit, Smith met with Ingalls leadership and toured the shipyard, including America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8).
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding hosted Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, at the shipyard Wednesday. During his visit, Smith met with Ingalls leadership and toured the shipyard, including America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8).
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HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong.
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