Took the reins leading the 11,000 strong workforce this past January
For 85 years, Ingalls Shipbuilding has been contributing to the state’s economy as the largest manufacturing employer. The 11,000 plus employees build and maintain ships and cutters for the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. At the helm of this large enterprise is Brian Blanchette, president of HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division since Jan. 1, 2025.
“Ingalls plays a critical role in the local, state and regional economies by employing more than 11,000 individuals. We provide thousands of high-quality jobs, supporting not only our employees but also the surrounding communities through our supply chain and partnerships with local businesses. Ingalls’ economic impact extends beyond direct employment,” he said.
Originally from Rhode Island, Blanchette has called the Gulf Coast home for more than 28 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan and attended the Center for Corporate Education program at The College of William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business.
“I grew up by the water, surrounded by boats and ships, which sparked a lifelong passion for them at an early age,” he said. “I also like math and science, as well as solving problems. When it came time to choose a career path, I knew that ship design was the direction I wanted to pursue.”
He said he’s tried to learn from all those he’s worked for, with, and around throughout his career. “With the work we do, we also have the honor and privilege of hosting some amazing leaders who’re recognized across the nation in our facility, but ultimately, knowing that men and women in uniform depend on our products for their mission and for their lives is the primary inspiration.”
Striving to be a servant leader, Blanchette views his role as being responsible for removing barriers and obstacles that are beyond his team’s span of control. “I would describe my leadership style as adaptive and growth-focused. Over the years, I’ve learned from both the strengths and shortcomings of leaders I have worked with and observed, shaping my own approach,” he said.
“Early in my career, I met an admiral who emphasized the importance of tackling problems head on and looking at challenges from different angles, a principle that has guided me ever since. I believe it is essential to maintain this mindset to continue evolving as a leader.”
He said his goal is to always add value and influence outcomes while recognizing that there’s room for improvement. Most importantly, he keeps the mission and purpose of what Ingalls does at the forefront, constantly looking for ways to improve and drive better results.
Blanchette was elected by the HII Board of Directors to serve as president of the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division. “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead Ingalls Shipbuilding and our dedicated shipbuilders,” he said. “I have had the privilege of working with and learning from remarkable people at every level and will continue to make sure we focus on our people, quality of execution and our strong foundation of delivering quality ships to the U.S. Navy.”
Blanchette holds two titles. As Executive Vice President of parent company HII and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding, the two titles reflect the different scopes of responsibility he holds within the company. “As EVP, I’m responsible for contributing to the overall strategy and performance of HII, ensuring that operations at Ingalls align with HII’s broader business objectives,” he explained. “As president of Ingalls, I lead the day-to-day operations and I’m responsible for all programs and operations, including the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault and surface combatant ship programs and the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter program.
“Both titles allows me to align Ingalls success with HII’s long-term vision while effectively managing the shipyard’s performance and execution.”
Blanchette said Ingalls Shipbuilding is experiencing significant demand for their ships, and remains committed to meeting that demand by hiring individuals with strong technical trade skills. “Skilled labor is essential to our ability to design and build some of the nation’s most powerful and capable ships in service to our nation,” he said. “Currently, we have 12 ships in various stages of construction and another 13 under contract.”
He added that the team is on track to achieve major milestones on multiple ships in the coming year, particularly within the destroyer and amphibious ship programs. “The $9.6 billion amphibious multi-ship contract awarded to Ingalls in 2024 further strengthens our partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, while also providing stability to all Ingalls shipbuilders and our surrounding community for the better part of the next decade.”
Outside of work, Blanchette’s principal priority is his family. “I have several kids with busy schedules, so when I’m not at the shipyard, my focus is on supporting them in everything they’re involved in, and staying active so I can keep up with them,” he said.
He reveals that as a teenager in the ‘80s, he was partial to movies like the “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Die Hard” series. “Today, one of my guilty pleasures is picking up a spy novel in an airport book store,” he said. “I’ll sometimes finish one before the return trip and pick up a second for the flight home. Currently, I’m reading a non-fiction book on leadership lessons by Admiral William McRaven. He’s an amazing individual with incredible stories, and the fact that my family and I had the opportunity to meet him at a ship christening makes it even more special.”
Blanchette has had a long and fulfilling career at Ingalls Shipbuilding beginning in 1996 as an associate naval architect for research and development. Over the course of his 28-year tenure, he has held various positions in engineering, program management, and business development, where he supported multiple international programs, served as the technical lead for Ingalls’ Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) proposal offering, worked the DDG 1000 program in Ingalls’ Washington, D.C. Office, was the ship design manager for multiple ship platforms, and was the ship program manager for destroyer Ralph Johnson (DDG 114).
Most recently, he was Vice President of Quality & Engineering, where he led a great team responsible for supporting all ship classes during design, construction, and post-delivery.
Blanchette said it’s a great time to be a shipbuilder. “For parents of middle school and high school age children, you should recognize that not only is there great pride in being a skilled craftsman or woman, there is also a great career to be had as well, including pay and benefits,” he affirmed. “How you react when your child expresses interest in learning a trade rather than going to college right away makes all the difference in the world. I’ll also mention that Ingalls is hiring for individuals with strong technical and trade skills. For skilled hands looking for steady work, visit hii.com/careers.”