HII appoints Xavier Beale as new VP of Trades at Newport News Shipbuilding

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) has promoted Xavier Beale to vice president of trades at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. He will succeed Ray Bagley, a master shipbuilder who retired in July after more than 43 years of service, the shipbuilder said in a press release.

In this role, Beale, who most recently served as director of human resources operations, will be responsible for production trades, trades management, trades administration and The Apprentice School. He will report directly to Matt Needy, Newport News’ vice president of operations.

“Xavier brings knowledge and experience as well as a unique personal and professional perspective,” said Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin. “He is a second-generation shipbuilder with a close connection to our workforce. I am confident that Xavier’s proven leadership, diverse experiences and commitment to people will continue to advance our trades organization by supporting our talented craft professionals and craft leadership.”

Beale began his career at Newport News in 1991 as a pipefitter, then left to pursue other opportunities. Beale returned in 2004 and since then has held leadership positions with increasing responsibility in human resources.  

Beale earned a master’s degree in human resources from Troy University and bachelor’s degree in governmental administration from Christopher Newport University.

About Huntington Ingalls Industries
Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HII’s Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Integrated Missions Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 39,000 people operating both domestically and internationally.