Matt Needy, formerly director of the Virginia-class submarine program at Huntington Ingalls Industries‘ (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division, has been promoted as the division’s vice president of the Virginia-class submarine program and fleet services.
He will report to Ken Mahler, Newport News’ VP of Navy programs, and succeed Jim Hughes, who will retire on Sept. 30 after a 35-year career with the company, Huntington Ingalls said Thursday.
Newport News President Matt Mulherin said Needy brings 25 years of shipbuilding industry experience to his new position and aims to continue helping the division identify new technologies for customers.
In his new capacity, Needy will be responsible for the construction of Virginia-class submarines and fleet maintenance efforts at the division.
He started his career at Newport News in 1987 as a co-op student and moved into a full-time engineer position in 1991 as well as various roles of increasing responsibility there.
