Huntington Ingalls Industries has announced that Matt Mulherin Jr. has been promoted to Vice President of Contracts at its Newport News Shipbuilding division. Mulherin succeeds Christie Thomas, who has been appointed Corporate Vice President, Investor Relations.

Mulherin will have overall responsibility for contracts, pricing, export/import licencing and compliance for Newport News. He will report to Don Godwin, Newport News Vice President of Business Management and Chief Financial Officer.

Mulherin joined Newport News in 2004 and has held finance and business operations management positions for the entire product line at the division. He started as a financial analyst and served as business manager for the Block III VIRGINIA-class submarine programme. Mulherin also served in director-level business management positions for both submarine and aircraft carrier programmes, most recently for DORIS MILLER (CVN 81) and future aircraft carriers.

Mulherin earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from The College of William and Mary.

JH