Panama City firm acquired by HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Jan. 30 it was acquiring the Panama City, Fla.-headquarters of the Engineering Solutions Division of The Columbia Group, a leading designer and builder of unmanned underwater vehicles for domestic and international customers. As a previous stand-alone division within The Columbia Group, ESD employs some 30 engineers, analysts, craftsmen and technicians. ESD will operate as the Undersea Solutions Group, a subsidiary of HII, and will report to Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding's Submarine and Fleet Support division. (Source: HII, 01/30/15) Gulf Coast Shipbuilding: HII is the largest industrial employer in Virginia and Mississippi; and has operations in Louisiana and Alabama. HII’s Pascagoula shipyard builds the LHA 6 class of large-deck amphibious ships and is the prime builder of the Navy's newest fleet of San Antonio (LPD 17) class amphibious assault ships.)