About the CompanyHuntington Ingalls Industries (HII) stands as America’s largest military shipbuilder, operating three major divisions that form the backbone of U.S. naval power. Newport News Shipbuilding handles all aircraft carrier construction and refueling operations, while partnering with General Dynamics Electric Boat on submarine programs. The Ingalls division in Mississippi serves as the nation’s largest provider of surface combatants, including destroyers and amphibious vessels. Meanwhile, their Mission Technologies division, based in McLean, Virginia, has emerged as the world’s largest producer of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs), having delivered over 750 systems globally through their Lionfish program and Remus family of vehicles.About the GuestEric Chewning brings a unique blend of private sector expertise and defense policy experience to his leadership role at HII. His background spans investment banking, management consulting at McKinsey & Company, and critical Pentagon positions focused on industrial base policy and serving as an advisor to the Secretary of Defense. From workforce development to technological innovation and international partnerships, Eric is driving the conversation around the future of American shipbuilding.Key Topics of Conversation* Workforce Innovation and Outsourcing Strategy: HII’s ambitious plan to scale outsourced work from 2 million to 3 million hours annually, and rebuilding of the sub-tier industrial base across America* Unmanned Systems Leadership: HII’s position as the world’s largest UUV producer, the evolution of the Lionfish program and autonomous launch and recovery capabilities for the Remus vehicle family* Industrial Base and International Partnerships: Analysis of the Korea-Hyundai partnership and how to balance domestic production with international cooperation* Technology Integration Challenges: assessing the state of AI implementation in legacy manufacturing environments and change management challenges in traditional shipbuilding operations* Workforce Development Excellence: HII’s Apprentice School programs and strategies for attracting talent from other industries to maritime* Defense Policy and Budget Outlook: FY26 defense program priorities, evolution of Navy unmanned surface vessel (USV) strategy, and long-term implications for naval force structure and capabilitiesLearn more about HII: https://hii.com/Follow Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-chewning-0500733/Follow Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinelliottgray/Follow Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tglinatsis/Subscribe to Rebuilding the Fleet:* Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebuilding-the-fleet/id1852025705* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4y9QghHY1jGi2XhdiVmWlj* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingTheFleet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit austinegray.substack.com
About the CompanyRegent is revolutionizing transportation with electric sea gliders - flying boats that operate in ground effect over water. The company serves dual markets: defense and commercial. On the defense side, they’re developing high-speed maritime solutions for Indo-Pacific operations with 180 mph speeds and 1,600-mile range using hybrid propulsion. Commercially, they’ve secured $10 billion in backlog from airlines and ferry companies for all-electric vehicles that travel just under 200 miles at twice the speed and half the cost of existing transportation modes.About the GuestBilly Thalheimer is the co-founder and CEO of Regent. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from MIT in aerospace engineering (Course 16), specializing in aircraft design and aerodynamics. Before founding Regent, Billy worked at prominent aerospace companies including Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and Aurora Flight Sciences (later acquired by Boeing), where he helped develop some of the early eVTOL technology. He went through Y Combinator’s Winter 2021 cohort and co-founded Regent with Mike Klinker, who handles flight controls and software.Key Topics of Conversation* Origin Story: How MIT aerospace engineers pivoted from traditional aviation to sea gliders* Technology Deep Dive: Electric propulsion advantages, ground effect physics, and hybrid systems* Market Economics: Why short-haul aviation maintenance costs drove their business model* Defense Applications: Maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC)* Commercial Traction: $10 billion backlog and partnerships with airlines/ferry operators* Regulatory Strategy: Navigating maritime vs aviation certification pathways* Competition Analysis: Differentiation from eVTOLs and traditional marine vessels* Funding & Growth: Scaling hardware development with strategic capital sources* Industry Criticism: Bold takes on DARPA effectiveness and government R&D priorities* Founder Advice: Building hardware companies and navigating aerospace/maritime sectorsLearn more about Regent: https://www.regentcraft.com/Follow Billy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamthalheimer/Follow Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinelliottgray/Follow Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tglinatsis/Subscribe to Rebuilding the Fleet:* Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebuilding-the-fleet/id1852025705* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4y9QghHY1jGi2XhdiVmWlj* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildingTheFleet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit austinegray.substack.com
I know what you’re thinking.You woke up this morning and said, “man, I need another podcast.” Well good news, reader.We got you.The truth is, we’re at a critical moment for American sea power. There is a renaissance happening.People are building. People are rebuilding. People are upgrading.We’re rethinking how we buy ships and submarines and all sorts of technology on the water. There’s interest and excitement around how we reconstitute the American shipyard, and what’s required to get to scale, fast.And, despite the glut of defense tech podcasts, no one has tackled maritime autonomy at scale.So, alongside my good friend and shipbuilding giant, Tim Glinatsis, we’re setting out to profile the people, companies, and technologies that are powering America’s maritime fleet.We’ll drop not one but TWO episodes to kick things off next Thursday.Subscribe and follow along, so you don’t miss a thing: YouTube | LinkedIn | SubstackWe’ll see you next Thursday. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit austinegray.substack.com