Promotions For Newport News' Top Executives

W.R. (Pat) Phillips, Jr., president and CEO of Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), has been named chairman of the shipyard, retaining his CEO position; and William (Bill) Fricks, the shipyard's executive vice president, will assume the posts of president and chief operating officer. Both assignments are effective immediately.

"Both Pat and Bill have the wealth of experience needed to lead (NNS) in constructing and repairing Navy submarine and surface ships while pursuing with unrelenting efforts the new opportunities before us," saidDana Mead, chairman and CEO of Tenneco, NNS's parent company.

In his new assignment Mr. Phillips will focus his primary attention on strategic initiatives, such as identifying and developing new markets. Mr. Fricks will concentrate on operational aspects of the shipyard with an emphasis on reducing costs and improving the yard's competitiveness as it adjusts to the post-Cold War era and positions itself to re-enter the commercial shiprepair and construction market and win contracts from foreign navies. Mr. Phillips was named president and CEO of NNS in 1992. He has worked at NNS for 45 years, beginning as an apprentice machinist and working his way up through leadership positions in operations, marketing and engineering. Mr. Fricks became executive vice president in 1992, overseeing aircraft carrier construction and overhaul, submarine construction and commercial shipbuilding and repair. Prior to that, he held vice president posts in the areas of finance, marketing and human resources. He joined the company in 1966 as an industrial engineer. For more information on NNS Circle 9 5 on Reader Service Card