FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 9, 1999 –Governor Jim Gilmore and other distinguished guests participated in a groundbreaking ceremony today for the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center at 25^th and West Avenue in downtown Newport News.

Participating in the groundbreaking with the Governor were Bill Fricks, Newport News Shipbuilding Chairman and CEO; Virginia State Delegate Alan Diamonstein; Admiral Jay Johnson, Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy; Barry DuVal, Secretary of Trade and Commerce, State of Virginia; Rear Admiral Bill Cross, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers, United States Navy; Joe Frank, Mayor of Newport News; and Bill Grace, President of the Newport News Industrial Development Authority. Also in attendance were many members of Virginia’s General Assembly and state and city officials, all of whom were instrumental in the passage of the bill.

Bill Fricks, in welcoming the attendees at the ceremony, said, "Today we mark another milestone in Virginia’s leadership in aircraft carriers. Working together with our industry and academic partners – in support of the U.S. Navy – we will continue to extend Virginia’s reputation as a state on the cutting edge of technology."

"The center will place Virginia at the forefront of maritime design and construction, both today and in the next millennium," Governor Gilmore said. "We will be on the cutting edge of the industry as the center conducts on-site testing, design and laboratory research on the next generation of Navy vessels."

The center will serve as the focal point for the integration of systems and the application of emerging technology onto future aircraft carriers.

Once in operation, the 230,000 square foot center will be occupied by more than 400 people from Newport News Shipbuilding, the Virginia shipbuilding industry, the U.S. Navy, Virginia universities and other high-tech companies. Operations are expected to begin in mid-2001.

Last June, Governor Gilmore signed legislation that approved funding for the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center. The legislation provides $58 million over three years to build the facility and another $40 million to begin its operation. Newport News Shipbuilding will build the facility for the Newport News Industrial Development Authority and will operate the center under the oversight of a board appointed by the Governor.

Newport News Shipbuilding designs and constructs nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy and provides life-cycle services for ships in the Navy fleet. The company employs 18,000 people and has annual revenues of approximately $1.8 billion.