ST. PE' PRESENTED NIMITZ AWARD BY NAVY LEAGUE OF U.S.

April 1, 1998 -- Jerry St. Pe', senior vice president of Litton Industries and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, was awarded the 1998 Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award Wednesday night by the Navy League of the United States "for exemplary contributions to enhancement of our nation's maritime strength and, in turn, to our nation."

St. Pe' received the award at the Navy League's 1998 Sea-Air-Space Exposition Banquet, keynoted in Washington, D.C., by Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton.

The award guidelines stipulate that the awardee "should reflect the qualities of leadership, statesmanship and dedication that were exemplified by Admiral Nimitz himself," and that "consideration should be given to the individual's long-term sustained contributions to national security."

Navy League National President Jack M. Kennedy said the Navy League "is honored indeed to present this prestigious award to an outstanding industry leader and dedicated American patriot. Mr. St. Pe' is a most welcome addition to the list of distinguished leaders who have advanced the cause of U.S. national security by their dedication, their sacrifice, and their adherence to the inspirational qualities of patriotism that made Fleet Admiral Nimitz such an outstanding naval leader," said Kennedy.

St. Pe' was cited by the selection committee for, among other things, "his outstanding leadership and dedication to the maritime strength of the United States and its allies and his exemplary career of more than three decades.

"Ingalls has continued to build upon a reputation for excellence in the design, production and fleet support of sophisticated cruisers, destroyers and amphibious assault ships for the U.S. Navy," the citation said. "Additionally, Ingalls is the only U.S. shipbuilder in recent times to have produced combatant ships for an allied Navy, delivering three corvettes to the Israeli Navy."

The citation noted that prior to his selection as president, St. Pe' served as the Company's vice president for public and industrial relations, an assignment for which he "was acclaimed for fostering the most effective labor-management relations in the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

"His vision, forthright leadership, and character continue to guide Ingalls Shipbuilding on a path of excellence into the 21st century," the citation said. "His commitment to the men and women of Ingalls, and to the future of the area he calls home, has earned him a distinguished reputation as a corporate leader and as an honorable man."

St. Pe', accepting the award, said it was his honor to receive the award on behalf of Mississippi's shipbuilders, "who, for six decades, have come to work each day with a clear set of goals in mind -- build quality ship. Build them on time. Build them within budget.

"It is because -- and only because -- of their performance, that I stand in the light tonight," said St. Pe'. "My role in accepting this award is to be sure that the light of honor gets reflected on those who truly deserve the credit -- on the workers of America's Shipyard."