<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ Charles P. Wingfield, Jr.
                                    -----------------------------
                                    Charles P. Wingfield, Jr.
                                    Vice President and Controller
                                    (Principal Financial Officer)
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ Joseph J. Sisco
                                    ------------------------
                                    Joseph J. Sisco
                                    Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ William P. Fricks
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    William P. Fricks
                                    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ William R. Harvey
                                    -----------------------------
                                    William R. Harvey
                                    Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ Gerald L. Baliles
                                    ------------------------
                                    Gerald L. Baliles
                                    Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ Charles A. Bowsher
                                    ------------------------------
                                    Charles A. Bowsher
                                    Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ Leon A. Edney
                                    --------------------------
                                    Leon A. Edney
                                    Director
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     The undersigned does hereby make, constitute and appoint William P. Fricks,
Stephen B. Clarkson and Charles P. Wingfield, Jr., jointly and severally, my
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution in each, for
me and in my name, place and stead to execute for me and on my behalf in each or
any one of my offices and capacities with Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. (the
"Company"), as shown below, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, which the Company contemplates filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and any and all amendments to said Form 10-K, hereby ratifying, approving and
confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact may do by virtue of these
presents.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed these presents this 23rd day of March,
2000.


                                    /s/ Stephen R. Wilson
                                    -----------------------------
                                    Stephen R. Wilson
                                    Director