HII is the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, employing some 44,000 workers nationwide—and its largest facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is on track to grow even larger.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Wednesday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division had broken ground on a new facility that will tighten its relationship with the United States Navy. The new 100,000-square-foot complex is effectively an enormous customer service facility for the Navy, serving to reinforce the collaboration between the military and industry personnel.

HII is working with the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair Gulf Coast (SUPSHIP GC), the US Navy’s Echelon II field activity under the Naval Sea Systems Command.

What Exactly Is the “SUPSHIP GC” Facility?

SUPSHIP GC acts as the US Navy’s on-site technical, contractual, and business authority co-located with major private-sector shipbuilders along the US Gulf Coast, where it administers and manages shipbuilding and ship repair contracts across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. It supports more than 600 military and civilian personnel, who oversee the engineering, quality assurance, contract management, and financial oversight throughout ship construction and delivery to the US Navy.

Company leaders joined US Navy officials at the groundbreaking ceremony, with Port of Pascagoula leadership, community stakeholders, and elected officials in attendance.

“Today’s groundbreaking represents an important investment in the future of Navy shipbuilding and in the partnerships that make our mission possible here at Ingalls,” said Eric Crooker, HII’s vice president of program management. “By bringing our government partners together, we are strengthening collaboration, improving efficiency and enhancing our ability to deliver the high-quality ships our sailors depend on.”

HII Is Pouring Resources into Pascagoula Expansion

The facility is located on property leased for the Port of Pascagoula. It is already Mississippi’s largest manufacturing employer and a key component of the American shipbuilding industrial base. The expansion is now on track to be completed in June 2028, enhancing the shipbuilding capabilities for the US Navy.

HII is already the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, employing more than 44,000 workers across its operations. It remains the sole designer, builder, and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the United States Navy, as well as a major builder of nuclear submarines.

The $50 million expansion will house SUPSHIP GC personnel who are located in Pascagoula, and reflects the role private industry plays in delivering advanced warships to the United States Navy.

“Our job at SUPSHIP is to collaborate with our industry partners and deliver warfighting capability to the Navy at speed,” said Captain Randy Slaff (USN), commanding officer of SUPSHIP GC. “Anything that contributes to that core mission is vitally important and this building represents a direct investment in that effort. Shipbuilding is a national imperative, and this project will bring our team together under one roof, driving efficiency and strengthening alignment as we support shipbuilding across the Gulf Coast.”

Ingalls Shipbuilding is one of HII’s largest divisions, employing more than 11,000 workers across the 800-acre Mississippi shipyard that has operated since 1938. That shipyard is now the sole builder of the US Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks; a builder of record for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and America-class amphibious assault ships; and the producer of the US Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutters.

With the new facility, HII will continue to remain a vital partner in the US military’s defense industrial base.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. He has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism, including Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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