A part of CVN-80’s aft is held in place by Newport News Shipbuilding’s towering crane, nicknamed “Big Blue.”

PARIS — American shipbuilding giant HII announced today that Kari Wilkinson will take the reigns at the company’s Newport News shipyard next year, with long-time executive Jennifer Boykin set to retire following a 37-year career.

Wilkinson currently oversees HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding, based in Mississippi and most widely known for producing the US Navy’s destroyers and amphibs, and has been in that role since 2021. She will be succeeded by Brian Blanchette, who has served as vice president of quality and engineering at Ingalls since 2021.

Boykin has been president of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding since 2017. That yard is most widely known for being the sole prime contractor for the Navy’s aircraft carriers, as well as a key partner to General Dynamics in producing both the Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines.

“I have asked Jennifer to stay on in an advisory capacity through March to support a seamless transition to Kari,” HII CEO and President Chris Kastner said in a Nov. 6 statement. “You will not find a more loyal advocate than Jennifer for her shipbuilders and the Hampton Roads community. Kari’s leadership has steered Ingalls Shipbuilding into its next phase of growth, having secured serial production contracts for both the destroyer and amphibious ship programs. She is a tremendous leader and now brings her great energy and expertise to Newport News.”

The leadership change announcements come just days after the company was forced to report a bleak outlook to Wall Street, drastically reducing its projections for free cash flow in 2024 and mostly blaming those numbers on supply chain issues as well as the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Asked about the announcement’s timing, an HII spokesman told Breaking Defense today, “The timing aligns with Jennifer’s retirement plans. HII has a long-term succession planning process working with our board of directors, and it was through that process that Kari Wilkinson and Brian Blanchette were elected. We are thankful for Jennifer’s 37 years of leadership and dedication — she will be greatly missed by shipbuilders and her colleagues across HII.”

He added that Boykin provided the company notice of her intent to retire “this year.”