A member of the Virginia Tech civil engineering class of 1969, W. Gregory Cridlin, Jr., went to work at Newport News Shipbuilding the day after graduation. Since joining the company, he has held a number of positions in the operations, overhaul and repair, marketing, material and production control, and engineering divisions.



In addition to his B.S. in civil engineering from Virginia Tech, Mr. Cridlin earned a M.B.A. from the College of William and Mary in 1971 and an A.M.P. from Harvard University's Business School in 1990.



Recently promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Submarine Programs, one of Newport News Shipbuilding's two major business segments, Mr. Cridlin is responsible for all aspects of the submarine product line from pre-contract through delivery. He also has held the posts of Vice President of Manufacturing and Vice President of Marketing, and has been involved in successful efforts to expand the company's business.



Active in service to his profession and the shipbuilding industry, Mr. Cridlin is a member of numerous organizations, including the American Production & Inventory Control Society, American Society of Naval Engineers, American Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Council of the Americas, Navy League of the United States, Propeller Club, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and Surface Navy Association. He also is a member and on the Board of Trustees of both the National Defense Industry Association and the Naval Submarine League.



During his career, he has played an integral role in strengthening the ties between Virginia Tech and Newport News Shipbuilding, which, with $1.7 billion in revenues and a workforce of 18,000 employees, is the largest privately owned shipyard in the U.S. and one of the largest private employers in Virginia. The company currently employs 324 Virginia Tech graduates.



Mr. Cridlin also maintains an active role as a Virginia Tech alumnus. He is a member of the College of Engineering Committee of 100 and of the Virginia Tech Business Advisory Council.



Greg Cridlin, a Richmond native, and his wife, Cary, live in Smithfield, Virginia, with their two children, Bill and Marion. Mr. Cridlin is a former member of the Smithfield Planning Commission and past Chairman of the Smithfield Historic Preservation Commission. He and his family are members of Holmes Presbyterian Church in Cape Charles, Virginia.