NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING CELEBRATES OPENING OF SUBMARINE FACILITY

What:Grand opening of NNS' Supplemental Module Outfitting Facility (SMOF), a $100 million investment to accommodate the Virginia Class Submarine Program's two-submarines-per-year build planWhen:1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 (Media to arrive by noon for pre-ceremony facility tour)Itinerary: Noon: Meet at Building 520 12:10 p.m.l Depart for SMOF 12:20 p.m.: Tour facility 12:40 p.m.: Media set-up 1 p.m.: Program 1:20 p.m.: Media availabilityWhere:Meet at Building 520 (corner of 41st Street and Washington Avenue) to be transported to the SMOFParking:Parking will be reserved in the visitor parking lot at the corner of 41st Street and Washington Avenue. Visitor parking is located on the left behind an unmanned guard shack. All reserved spaces will be marked with an orange cone. Please remove the cone and replace it when you leave. RSVP:Christie Miller, Huntington Ingalls Industries, (757) 380-3581 Christie.Miller@hii-co.com

Please RSVP by noon on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

The Supplemental Module Outfitting Facility (SMOF) will be used in the production of submarines for the Virginia Class Submarine program, which has been recognized as the best shipbuilding program in the Navy. Construction of Washington (SSN 787) on Sept. 2, 2011, marked the beginning of the program's two-submarines-per-year build plan.