Page 20 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2023

PEOPLE
WHO DAT BREAKING BARRIERS
story by Cherie Ward photos courtesy of Alexis Moran
As a woman in the male-dominated field of environmental engineering, Alexis Moran is pushing the boundaries
of the American shipyard industry, and as an NFL cheerleader dedicated to the
betterment of her community.
“Environmental compliance is so important because it avoids negative impacts on our planet,” Moran said. “The importance of the role we play inside and outside of the
shipyard is essential, so we must make sure all requirements are met to ensure we are being good stewards of the environment and the community.”
A fourth-generation legacy shipbuilder, Moran has a passion for environmental stewardship as an Environmental Health and Safety Engineer at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. Four
years ago, the Vancleave native added NFL ambassador to her list of accomplishments when she joined the New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe.
“Ingalls has helped instill confidence in me and has helped shape me into the person I am today,” she said. “I am forever grateful for the amazing opportunities I’ve had here and for the support Ingalls has given to me to live out my dreams as both an engineer and an NFL cheerleader.
I’ll never forget the electrifying feeling of performing in the Superdome for a sea of over 70,000 people. It’s a feeling like no other. The thrill of stepping out onto the field every game never gets old.”
And she took her shipyard knowledge with her when she auditioned for the Saints squad.
“The judges asked a fun fact about me,” she said with a laugh. “I always tell them that aside from all of the dance shoes I
own, I also own a pair of steel-toe work boots because I’m a proud shipbuilder.”
Moran began her career at America’s largest military shipbuilding company as a college intern in 2017. She joined Ingalls full-time
after graduating from Mississippi State University (MSU) with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with an Environmental
20 | March 2023 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living