HII makes communications appointments

Jim McIngvale and Jennifer Dunn

AUGUST 9, 2016 — Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) has announced two communications and public relations appointments.

Yesterday, HII reported that Jim McIngvale has been named director of communications and public affairs at Ingalls Shipbuilding division, which has combined its communications department and its government and community affairs department into a single organization called communications and public affairs.

Today, HII announced that Jennifer Dunn has been promoted to vice president, communications at Newport News Shipbuilding.

She will report directly to HII Executive Vice President and Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin and align all external communications with Jerri Dickseski, HII’s executive vice president, communications.

McIngvale has been an Ingalls employee since 1977 and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including photographer, senior communications editor, director of public relations and advertising, director of communications and special events, and, for the past several years, director of government and community affairs. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from the University of Mississippi in 1976.

“Jim has established a strong reputation of professionalism and efficiency here at Ingalls through his various roles in communications and government/community relations,” said Brian Cuccias, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. “For the past 39 years he has proven to be a valuable asset to the Ingalls team. His knowledge of the field and experience here will make this a seamless integration of the team.”

The new department will be responsible for Ingalls’ brand and image, both inside the shipyard and in the community. It will manage all internal communications programs, special events and audiovisual services and will coordinate external communications and media initiatives with HII corporate communications. The organization will lead and support Ingalls’ relationships with state, local and regional governments and community-based organizations. It will also continue its support of HII corporate government affairs.

McIngvale serves as vice president of the board of directors of the Mississippi World Trade Center. He also serves on the board of governors of the Mississippi Economic Council, and he represents Jackson County on the board of trustees of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

In October, he will be named chairman of the board of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.

In 2012, McIngvale was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant as a commissioner of Go Coast 2020, charged with defining how key priorities and leveraged resources can help overcome challenges faced by the Coast in the aftermath of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He is co-chair of Go Coast’s Workforce GoTeam.

He is a past chairman of both the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation and is currently vice chair of the Mississippi Military Communities Council.

Dunn previously served as director, communications, for Newport News. In her new role, she will continue leading the development and execution of the shipyard’s communications strategy to include special events, employee communications, executive communications and thought leadership, local and community public relations and advertising, employee recognition programs, and shipyard crisis communications.

Dunn also oversees a team of creative professionals who provide graphic design, photography and videography services across the enterprise.

“This promotion recognizes the value Jennifer brings to Newport News and is a reflection of her leadership in all communication efforts, as well as her proactive approach to embrace new challenges and responsibilities,” Mulherin said. “She also provides important communications counsel to me and to all the members of my senior team and is an important contributor to our ability to accomplish our strategic objectives for our customers, employees and community.”

A third-generation shipbuilder with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Christopher Newport University, Dunn joined Newport News in 1997 as an operations coordinator in the submarine program. In 2000 she joined what was then the Newport News’ corporate communications team and has held positions of increasing responsibility, including director of communications for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

Dunn was named director of communications for Newport News Shipbuilding in 2008. She also supported the spin-off and formulation of Huntington Ingalls Industries in 2011.