Jennifer Boykin

Boykin's father's parents are both from Puerto Rico.^[1] She was born in California and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.^[1] Jennifer was a tomboy and was the first girl^[1] to play baseball with the boys in her division.^[6]

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy^[3] in Kings Point, New York.

She earned her Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University^[3] in Washington, D.C.

Boykin first worked as an engineer in the nuclear engineering division at Newport News Shipbuilding, before moving through the ranks, and eventually becoming president of the company.^[6][7] She was the first woman president of Newport News Shipbuilding, the first in over 133 years of operation.^[8] She ran the largest shipbuilding operations in the United States, including the only one that builds nuclear-powered aircraft carriers^[6] and one of two that makes nuclear-powered submarines.^[1][8] In 2021, the shipyard was working on Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers^[9][10] and employed over 22,000 personnel.^[11][8][6] Boykin retired at the end of 2024 after 37 years with the shipbuilder.^[5][4]

She has been married to Blake Boykin for more than 30 years, and has one daughter that also works at Newport News Shipbuilding.^[6]