Jennifer Boykin

Jennifer Boykin
Alma materUnited States Merchant Marine Academy
George Washington University
OccupationsEngineer
Former President of Newport News Shipbuilding

Jennifer Boykin is an engineer, the first woman president[1] of Newport News Shipbuilding,[2][3] and was the vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries,[2][3] which is located in Newport News, Virginia. In 2024, Boykin retired.[4][5]

Biography

Early life

Boykin's father's parents are both from Puerto Rico.[1] She was born in California and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] Jennifer was a tomboy and was the first girl[1] to play baseball with the boys in her division.[6]

Education

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy[3] in Kings Point, New York.

She earned her Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University[3] in Washington, D.C.

Career

Boykin first worked as an engineer in the nuclear engineering division at Newport News Shipbuilding, before moving through the ranks, and eventually becoming president of the company.[6][7] She was the first woman president of Newport News Shipbuilding, the first in over 133 years of operation.[8] She ran the largest shipbuilding operations in the United States, including the only one that builds nuclear-powered aircraft carriers[6] and one of two that makes nuclear-powered submarines.[1][8] In 2021, the shipyard was working on Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers[9][10] and employed over 22,000 personnel.[11][8][6] Boykin retired at the end of 2024 after 37 years with the shipbuilder.[5][4]

Family life

She has been married to Blake Boykin for more than 30 years, and has one daughter that also works at Newport News Shipbuilding.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Profile: Jennifer Boykin, Newport News Shipbuilding president". Daily Press (Virginia). Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Newport News Shipbuilding president Matt Mulherin to retire". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Jennifer Boykin - Executive Vice President and President, Newport News Shipbuilding". Huntington Ingalls Industries. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "With retirement looming, Newport News Shipbuilding president says she'll miss the people, calls shipyard, 'addictive'". 13newsnow.com. 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  5. ^ a b Andrews, Kate (2024-11-06). "Boykin retiring as NNS president; Wilkinson named as successor". Virginia Business. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Shipshape – The leader of Virginia's biggest industrial employer is preparing it for a digital transformation". Virginia Business. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Profile: Jennifer Boykin, Newport News Shipbuilding president". Daily Press. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  8. ^ a b c "The Power List – Jennifer Boykin, president, Newport News Shipbuilding". Inside Business. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Huntington Ingalls Awarded Contract for Single-Phase Delivery of Aircraft Carrier". Searpower Magazine. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  10. ^ "UPDATED: Navy Awards 2-Carrier Contract to Newport News Shipbuilding". usni.org. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Newport News Shipbuilding announces 300-plus layoffs". WTVR-TV. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.