Nearly a decade ago, the Council on Foreign Relations made a statement that became etched in my mind: that human capital will determine power in the current century, and the failure to produce that capital will undermine America’s national security.
Leading a national defense company that hires, trains and upskills thousands of workers each year — spanning pipe fitters to nuclear physicists to software coders — we at Huntington Ingalls Industries live this imperative in real time and continuously. Is America’s youth today learning the workforce and technology skills necessary to ensure our nation remains a strong military and technology leader in the 21st century? Are we giving them the foundation they need — and we need — to help America prosper and advance the cause of freedom and democracy in this competitive global environment?
