Les Smith is vice president of Enterprise (CVN 80), Doris Miller (CVN 81) and Future Aircraft Carrier Programs for Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII. Named to this position in 2023, Smith is responsible for the engineering, planning and advanced construction of the third and fourth ships of the Ford-class as well as acquisition of all following Ford-class ships.

Smith is a third-generation shipbuilder with more than 10 years of shipbuilding and construction experience at NNS. He joined the shipyard after successfully managing a residential construction business and has since served in roles of increasing responsibility in the Ford-class and Virginia­-class programs. Prior to his current appointment, Smith served as program director for Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) Aircraft Carrier Programs.

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in building construction from Virginia Tech.