Chris Kastner News

Eric Chewning, former chief of staff to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and deputy assistant secretary for industrial policy, is joining HII as executive vice president, Strategy & Development, reporting directly to HII President and CEO Chris Kastner. Chewning assumes the role on Jan. 30.Chewning joins HII as it grows its customer set across the armed forces and executes on its significant shipbuilding backlog for its primary customer, the U.S. Navy. HII is the nation’s only builder of aircraft carriers and its largest military shipbuilder…

Defense and technologies company HII announced on Monday that Todd Borkey has been promoted to executive vice president and chief technology officer, effective immediately and reporting directly to HII President and CEO Chris Kastner.The move comes during a time of technological advancement for HII and expands the scope of responsibilities for Borkey, who has served as chief technology officer of HII’s Mission Technologies division since 2021. In his new role, Borkey will oversee the company’s technology strategy…

The U.S.' largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries said Friday its Chief Operating Officer Chris Kastner would become HII president and chief executive officer, consistent with the company’s succession plan. The HII board also elected president and CEO Mike Petters to become executive vice-chairman of the board for a transition period. Both changes are expected to take effect on March 1.$48 billion shipbuilding backlogPetters and Kastner, who has acted over the past decade as chief financial officer…

America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Friday that its board of directors has elected Kari Wilkinson to serve as executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, effective April 1. She will succeed Brian Cuccias, who announced that he will retire April 1.Kari Wilkinson, who will report to  HII executive vice president and COO Chris Kastner, currently serves as Ingalls’ vice president, program management.“Kari…

America’s largest military shipbuilding company announced that Jeanne Callahan has been named corporate vice president, internal audit, and that David “Chip” Wasson has been named corporate vice president, corporate strategy. Both promotions are effective immediately, and both report to Chris Kastner, executive vice president, business management, and chief financial officer. Callahan has served as director, business management, contracts and government compliance, since HII formed in 2011. In her new position, she will be responsible for maintaining an effective internal audit program that provides independent and objective evaluation of company processes and control systems.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced changes to its senior leadership team. Michael Smith, executive vice president, strategy and development, is moving to HII’s Technical Solutions division, where he will serve as president of the SN3 business and report to Michael Lempke, president of the Nuclear & Environmental group, effective immediately. Scott Stabler, executive vice president, internal audit, is moving into a new role as HII’s executive vice president and chief transformation officer, reporting to Mike Petters, HII’s president and CEO.

Ron A. Davis has joined Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) as chief information systems officer (CISO). In this new role, he will lead the company’s cyber security program with responsibility for ensuring the early identification of threats and risks and the implementation of controls and other processes and methods to protect information systems for the entire HII enterprise. Davis will work in HII’s Washington, D.C., office and will report to Chris Kastner, executive vice president, business management, and chief financial officer. “Cyber security is a top priority for HII,” Kastner said.

Huntington Ingalls Industries informs that it has acquired UniversalPegasus International Holdings (UPI), a leading provider of engineering and project management services to the domestic and international energy markets. The value of the transaction is not being disclosed. UPI was a privately held company headquartered in Houston. It also performs work in Oklahoma, Illinois and Louisiana, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Trinidad and Tobago. Huntington explains that UPI has provided a broad range of engineering and project management services to the energy industry for over 50 years. Whether onshore or offshore, from the wellhead to processing facilities to delivery points…

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that René Mathieu has been named vice president and general manager, Avondale Industries Inc., effective May 20. He is responsible for all non-Navy aspects of HII's energy infrastructure business in Avondale, La., including production operations, human resources, business management, engineering and design, facilities management and fabrication. Mathieu will work in Avondale and at Avondale's business development office in Houston. He will report directly to Chris Kastner, HII's corporate vice president and general manager, corporate development.

Huntington Ingalls Industries Opens Houston Office to Pursue Energy Business for Avondale Subsidiary. Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that it is opening an office in Houston, Texas, for business development efforts to pursue opportunities in the energy infrastructure market for its Avondale subsidiary. "We have a great workforce at Avondale with unique engineering and manufacturing capabilities that have been demonstrated for many decades," said Mike Petters, HII's president and chief executive officer. "Additionally, these skilled men and women are located in the heart of a region where there is more manufacturing demand than thecurrent suppliers can meet, particularly in the energy markets.