• Brian Blanchette will assume leadership of HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.

A leadership change is coming at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.

Huntington Ingalls, the nation's largest military shipbuilder, announced Wednesday morning that its board of directors has elected Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls, as president of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

The Newport News facility is HII's largest division, serving more than 26,000 shipbuilders. The Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula employs around 11,000 shipbuilders. The two shipyards make HII the largest industrial employer in Virginia and Mississippi.

Wilkinson, who has been president of HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division since 2021, will succeed Jennifer Boykin. Boykin is retiring from her position at the end of the year after 37 years with the company.

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

HII noted that, under Wilkinson's leadership, Ingalls approved the recent $9.6 billion multi-ship procurement contract for the construction of three San Antonio-class amphibious ships (LPD 17) and a contract modification for the next large-deck amphibious ship America-class (LHA 6) received ship.

READ MORE: Ingalls wins multi-ship contract worth $9.5 billion

Wilkinson's successor as Executive Vice President of HII and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding was Brian Blanchette, who oversees all programs and operations and has served as Ingalls' Vice President of Quality and Engineering since May 2021.

Blanchette joined Ingalls in 1996 and has served in a variety of roles, including engineering and design, program management and business development.