Aerospace
10 Huntington Ingalls Industries engineering leaders
These ten people hold or have held director and vice president engineering roles at HII and its Newport News Shipbuilding, Ingalls Shipbuilding and HII Technical Solutions divisions, across ship design, nuclear engineering, production engineering and industrial engineering. A reader can learn how engineering leaders build and run their teams at a naval shipbuilder.
Professionals to explore
01—10Alex Erving
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII
Director of Engineering at Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII since December 2022; the profile describes the role as Technical Director, Future Submarine Design and Undersea Warfare Systems. Alex Erving was previously Engineering Manager there (2008–2022) and a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy (2003–2008).
Dannon Butts
LinkedInExperience: Director Industrial Engineering · Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII
Former Director Industrial Engineering at Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII (March 2018 to August 2024), and Manager Production Engineering there since August 2024. Dannon Butts was also Manager Industrial Engineering (2016–2018) and Manager - Quality Engineering (2014–2016) at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII.
Dave Whiddon
LinkedInExperience: Chief Engineer and VP Engineering · Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII
Former Chief Engineer and VP Engineering at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII (January 2011 to May 2012). Dave Whiddon was formerly VP Advanced Technology at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (2006–2010), and was also an Engineering Department Industrial Advisory Board Member at the University of South Alabama (2008–2014).
Gaylene McHale
LinkedInExperience: Director, Production Engineering · Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII
Former Director, Production Engineering at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII (April 2011 to July 2015), and Director, Shipyard of the Future there since August 2015. Gaylene McHale was also Director, Advanced Capabilities at Ingalls Shipbuilding (2008–2011) and VP, Program Manager Large Deck Amphibs at Northrop Grumman (2005–2008).
Irin Hall
LinkedInExperience: Director of Facilities Projects and Engineering · HII
Director of Facilities Projects and Engineering at HII since September 2024, in Newport News, Virginia. Irin Hall was previously Director Of Nuclear Engineering (2019–2023) and Director of Plant Operations (2023–2024) at HII, and Superintendent, Radiological Support Facility at Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII (2017–2019).
Jennifer Childs
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Quality and Engineering · Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII
Vice President, Quality and Engineering at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII since January 2025. Jennifer Childs was previously Director, Technical & Design Engineering (2021–2024), Ship Design Manager (2014–2021) and Manager - Specialty Engineering and Noise, Shock, & Vibration (2011–2013) at Ingalls Shipbuilding.
Jill O'Donnell
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · HII Technical Solutions, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries
Director of Engineering at HII Technical Solutions, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries since November 2023, after an earlier Director of Engineering role there from January 2023; the profile describes the role as Director of Engineering for the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility. Jill O'Donnell was also Maintenance Manager (2021–2023) and Facilities Manager (2016–2019 and 2019–2021) there.
Jonathan Sherman
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Director · Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII
Engineering Director at Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII since March 2020, and Chief Technology Officer there since January 2026. Jonathan Sherman was also Engineering Manager 3 (2017–2020), Engineering Manager 2 (2013–2017) and Mechanical Engineer III (2007–2013) at Newport News Shipbuilding.
Lee Goodwyn
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Engineering · HII
Director Of Engineering at HII since February 2020, in Newport News, Virginia. Lee Goodwyn's other HII roles include Engineered Components Manager (2015–2020), Electrical Test Engineering Supervisor (2011–2015) and Nuclear Test Engineer (2004–2011).
Paul Tovey
LinkedInExperience: Director, Nuclear Propulsion-Overhaul Engineering · Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII
Director, Nuclear Propulsion-Overhaul Engineering at Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII since June 2017. Before that director role, Paul Tovey's earlier Newport News Shipbuilding position is listed as Nuclear Engineering Manager.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person to the shipyard and engineering area behind your question, since submarine design, nuclear overhaul, surface ship production and government nuclear facility work are led by different HII teams. Check each person's dates before asking how HII works today, since some roles listed here have ended.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do ship design and production engineering teams hand off a design to the shipyard floor?
- 02What does it take to plan engineering for a nuclear overhaul or refueling of a Navy ship?
- 03How do you staff and train engineers for long naval programs that run across decades?
Reaching Huntington Ingalls Industries engineering leaders
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Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 4 companies, including Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of HII; Ingalls Shipbuilding, a Division of HII and HII, based on profile data retrieved on October 5, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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