2026 Forty Under 40: KEVIN SWEENEY JR.

DIRECTOR OF SHIPYARD BUSINESS OPERATIONS | COLONNA’S SHIPYARD | NORFOLK

Virginia Business //April 28, 2026//

DIRECTOR OF SHIPYARD BUSINESS OPERATIONS | COLONNA’S SHIPYARD | NORFOLK

Virginia Business //April 28, 2026//

At Colonna’s Shipyard, the nation’s oldest continuously family-owned and operated private shipyard, Sweeney supports complex shipyard operations and was lead project manager for the USS George H.W. Bush supercarrier’s repairs. A Virginia Ship Repair Association board member, Sweeney spent more than a decade at General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk, where he worked as project manager and scheduling manager.

KEY TO MY SUCCESS: Focusing on removing barriers so that my team can do their best work. In a shipyard environment, it’s easy for people to get bogged down in complex requirements or lose sight of the larger mission, so I see my role as clearing obstacles, providing clarity and making sure our estimators and planners can spend their time applying their skills where they matter most.

SOMETHING SURPRISING ABOUT ME: I have identical twin 4-year-old daughters who keep me on my toes. I love seeing their faces light up when I arrive home from work each day.