HII has named Eric Chewning executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy, expanding his responsibilities to lead company strategy on maritime and advanced technology development.
The company said the move advances its long-term plan to strengthen U.S. maritime dominance through shipbuilding and new multi-domain warfighting capabilities.
Chewning, who joined HII in January 2023 and led industrial base policy at the Defense Department, has driven efforts to grow the U.S. shipbuilding base through acquisitions, expanded partnerships at home and abroad, and the use of advanced technologies to support the Navy’s future fleet.
“HII is firmly committed to increasing shipbuilding throughput for the U.S. Navy. We are doing that both by improving performance within our shipyards and expanding the industrial base,” said Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO. “Eric’s unique experience and skill sets continue to support our mission of delivering the capabilities our defense customers urgently need.”
While division shipyard presidents continue to oversee operations and program execution, Chewning is working alongside them to shape HII’s strategy for future maritime capabilities and fleet architecture. His portfolio includes developing hybrid manned-unmanned teaming strategies, securing outsourcing partners to boost throughput, driving business pursuits for new maritime capabilities, managing enterprise strategic partnerships, and leading enterprise strategy and the Dark Sea Labs advanced technology group.
In 2025, HII reported progress in several areas to increase throughput:
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The company is on track to more than double outsourced hours this year with partners in multiple states and expects to quadruple them within two years. Outsourcing expands industrial base capacity, increases throughput and improves adherence to Navy schedules.
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HII acquired an advanced manufacturing facility in South Carolina to establish Newport News Shipbuilding’s Charleston Operations, accelerating production of submarine modules and structural aircraft carrier units.
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HII expanded international partnerships with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Britain’s Babcock International Group. H&B Defense, a joint venture between HII and Babcock, is advancing Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine program and incorporating Australian and U.K. firms into HII’s supply chain to strengthen the allied maritime industrial base.
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Domestically, HII broadened its technology partnerships, including with C3 AI, to deploy Industry 4.0 technologies and apply artificial intelligence to speed shipbuilding production.