Wilkinson named 2024 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department Merit Awardee

The Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is proud to announce Kari Wilkinson as the 2024 recipient of the Alumni Merit Award. The award, presented at the Alumni Awards Dinner during Michigan Engineering Homecoming Weekend, honors alumni who exemplify the College’s tradition of excellence and have achieved remarkable professional accomplishments.

Wilkinson, executive vice president of Huntington Ingalls Industries and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding since April 2021, leads over 11,000 extraordinary shipbuilders in the construction and delivery of United States Navy and Coast Guard ships. Her career at Ingalls began in 1996 as an associate naval architect but continued on to include roles in business development, operations, and waterfront program management.

A proud University of Michigan alumnus with a naval architecture and marine engineering degree, Wilkinson also holds an MBA from Temple University. Her leadership extends beyond Ingalls, with significant roles on various boards, including the Gulf Coast Business Council and the Mississippi Power Company.