Society of ship sponsors

Rear Adm. Thomas Wettlaufer, Commander, Military Sealift Command, addresses attendees of the christening ceremony for MSC's newest ship, USNS Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5), at the General Dynamics, NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. Miguel Keith is the fifth ship in the expeditionary mobile base platform build for MSC, and the third expeditionary staging base model. The ship will be delivered to the MSC fleet later this year, where it will support a variety of maritime-based missions, including Special Operations Forces and Airborne Mine Counter Measures support operations, humanitarian and traditional military missions.

USNS Miguel Keith Christened at General Dynamics NASSCO San Diego

03/09/2020
Rear Adm. Thomas Wettlaufer, Commander, Military Sealift Command, addresses attendees of the christening ceremony for...
Christenings
GULFPORT, Miss. (Oct. 5, 2019) – The crew of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship, USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) mans the ship during the commissioning ceremony in Gulfport, Miss. LCS 20, the fifth ship in naval history to be named Cincinnati, will be homeported at Naval Base San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Rosalie Chang)

Navy Commissions USS Cincinnati (LCS 20)

03/09/2020
GULFPORT, Miss. (Oct. 5, 2019) – The crew of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship, USS Cincinnati (LCS...
Commissionings
BURNS HARBOR, Ind. (Oct. 26, 2019) Dick Thelen, a veteran seaman 2nd class and a survivor of the sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA 35), hands the long glass (telescope) to Lt. Julian Turner, navigator of the first watch, during the commissioning ceremony of USS Indianapolis (LCS 17). LCS 17 is the 19th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the ninth of the Freedom variant. It will be the fourth ship named for Indianapolis, Indiana's capital city. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy Haggerty)

Navy Commissions Littoral Combat Ship Indianapolis

03/09/2020
BURNS HARBOR, Ind. (Oct. 26, 2019) Dick Thelen, a veteran seaman 2nd class and a...
Commissionings
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Woody Williams (ESB 4) Commissioned

03/07/2020
Hershel Woodrow Williams, Retired Chief Warrant Officer Four and Medal of Honor recipient, salutes as...
Commissionings

USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) Christened

03/01/2020
https://youtu.be/2f_TMCfBcpE Article originally appears courtesy of Fox 11 News (March 1, 2020) A celebration was held...
Christenings
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USNS Cherokee Nation Keel Laying

02/12/2020
Tribal leaders from the Cherokee Nation, U.S. Navy officials from Program Executive Office Ships and...
Keel Authentication Ceremonies
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USS Oregon (SSN 793) Christened in Connecticut

02/02/2020
The U.S. Navy’s newest attack submarine, the future USS Oregon, is christened in a ceremony at...
Christenings
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USS Basilone Keel Laying

01/10/2020
BATH, Maine (Jan. 10, 2020) Ship sponsor Ms. Ryan Manion welds her initials into a...
Keel Authentication Ceremonies
PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (July 27, 2019) The crew of the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. Paul Ignatius is the 67th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the first warship named for the former Secretary of the Navy who served under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967 to 1969. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alana Langdon)

USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) Brought to Life

09/16/2019
The crew of the Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117),...
Commissionings
KEY WEST, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2019) Naval Air Station Key West color guard parades the colors during the commissioning ceremony of USS Billings (LCS 15). Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the eighth of the Freedom variant. It is the first ship named for Billings, the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Arnesia McIntyre)

USS Billings (LCS 15) Commissioned

09/16/2019
KEY WEST, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2019) Naval Air Station Key West color guard parades the...
Commissionings