DAV (Disabled American Veterans) has named Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a Virginia-based military shipbuilding company, its Large Employer of the Year. HII representatives will receive the award Aug. 4 during the 98th DAV and Auxiliary National Convention in Orlando, Florida.

HII employs more than 40,000 men and women across 42 states and 13 countries. According to the company, more than 7,100—nearly 18%—are veterans, and HII says they are committed to raising that number by filling more than 20% of new jobs with veterans.

Each of HII’s three operating divisions—Ingalls Shipbuilding, Newport News Shipbuilding and Technical Solutions—has at least one recruiter dedicated to hiring veterans. The company’s recruiters actively engage the military community about career opportunities at HII, and also educate their talent acquisition team and hiring managers on how to identify, recruit and retain veteran talent.

In January 2018, HII announced that it had joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses campaign, to raise awareness of military spouse unemployment, which rates four times the national average, and to encourage employers to make military spouse hiring commitments. As part of the initiative, HII plans to hire at least 50 service member spouses over the next three years.

“HII knows that veterans and disabled veterans alike come to the workforce with experience in management, leadership and teamwork,” said DAV National Commander Dennis Nixon. “I’m grateful for what they have done for the men and women who served, and their commitment to address the employment rate of military spouses. They clearly understand that when you hire veterans, you hire some very skilled and sought-after talent.”

 

About DAV

DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million veteran members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932.