Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Founded in 1886, it is located in Newport News, Virginia, and is the sole designer, builder, and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, as well as one of two providers of Navy submarines. The shipyard spans over 550 acres along the James River and is Virginia’s largest industrial employer with approximately 25,000 employees. The company has built every aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy’s fleet since USS Enterprise (CVN 65), including all ten Nimitz-class carriers and the Ford-class carriers. NNS also constructs Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat and performs refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) work on nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Throughout its history, Newport News Shipbuilding has produced 30 aircraft carriers, 75 submarines, 12 battleships, and numerous other vessels for the U.S. Navy. The company maintains extensive facilities for steel fabrication, machining, pipe fitting, welding, and advanced manufacturing. NNS is also known for its apprentice school, established in 1919, which provides advanced training in shipbuilding trades and has graduated over 10,000 apprentices.