HII announces corporate, human resources promotions

Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries, the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, has promoted Edmond Hughes to executive vice president and chief human resources officer, the company announced Thursday.

Hughes has served as vice president of human resources and administration contracts at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division and at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding since 2006. He’ll replace William “Bill” R. Ermatinger, who is retiring April 1 after 25 years.

“Bill’s leadership has been critical to the evolution and growth of HII. It is a testament to his success that we have a deep bench of talent to fill his shoes,” HII President and CEO Mike Petters said in a news release Thursday.

Susan Jacobs, who has served as vice president of human resources at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division since 2016, will replace Hughes. Before her position at NNS, Jacobs spent nearly a decade as director of human resources and administration at Ingalls.

Hughes’ new responsibilities will include employee compensation, health and welfare, benefits, employee and labor relations, learning and development, talent management and acquisition, equal employment opportunity, diversity and inclusion and change management. He previously led human resources at General Motors and TRW Automotive. Hughes has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tougaloo College, in Mississippi, and an MBA from Indiana University.

Jacobs will be responsible for attracting, developing and retaining Ingalls’ workforce. She previously served as senior director of human resources for L-3 Communications. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi.

HII said the promotions of Hughes and Jacobs are critical in continuing the company’s record of developing leaders and talent as well as creating an environment that values respect, engagement and performance.

The Fortune 500 company employs more than 44,000 workers and is Virginia’s largest industrial employer. Its Newport News Shipbuilding division is the United States’ only manufacturer of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Last month, HII announced Christopher D. Kastner would take over as president and CEO on March 1.