Ship Ceremonies
Christening of the USS JEREMIAH DENTON (DDG 129)
On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the first ship named for Vietnam War hero and Prisoner of War, the USS JEREMIAH DENTON (DDG 129), was christened and officially named in Pascagoula, Mississippi, forty miles from Admiral Denton’s birthplace. His daughters, Madeleine Denton Doak and Mary Denton...
Christening of USS LOUIS H. WILSON JR. (DDG 126)
Christening of USS LOUIS H. WILSON JR. (DDG 126) On Saturday, September 27, 2025, beneath the clear skies of an early autumn morning in Bath, Maine, the United States Navy proudly christened the USS LOUIS H. WILSON JR. (DDG 126). This distinguished ship, the first...
The U.S. Navy christens the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124)
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) during a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, July 29, 2023.Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro delivered the christening ceremony’s principal address.“I have always looked to...
Decommissioning of USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58)
Decommissioning of USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58) On September 27, 2025, at Pier 2 of Naval Station Newport, Virginia, the Navy formally decommissioned USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58), closing the chapter on more than 36 years of distinguished service. The ceremony, rich with Navy tradition, included banners,...
CHRISTENING OF USNS SOJOURNER TRUTH (T-AO 210)
Bruni Bradley represented the Society of Sponsors at the christening of the United States Navy’s newest oiler, the mighty USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210) at the NASCCO Shipyard in San Diego on April 26, 2025. Sojourner Truth was a nineteenth century civil rights activist from...
COMMISSIONING OF USS IOWA (SSN 797)
USS IOWA (SSN 797) was commissioned on April 5, 2025, at Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut. The commissioning of the fast-attack submarine was long awaited as its initial work had been delayed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Attendees from the state of...
CHRISTENING THE USNS BILLY FRANK JR. [T-ATS 11]
The christening ceremony for the USNS Billy Frank Jr. [T-ATS 11] was held at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama on March 29, 2025. The towing, salvage, and rescue ship is the first steel ship built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile. The christening was...
CHRISTENING OF USS HARRISBURG (LPD 30)
Photo courtesy of HIIThe future USS HARRISBURG was christened at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi on January 11, 2025, as hundreds of shipbuilders, Navy family, namesake city residents and locals cheered. The first Flight II San Antonio class vessel is the second ship named for...
CHRISTENING OF ARKANSAS (SSN 800)
On December 7, 2024, under sunny skies but with cold winds blowing in from the James River and Chesapeake Bay, some 4,000 guests and workers from Newport News Shipbuilding anxiously watched the huge count-down clock as they awaited the beginning of the christening ceremony of...
COMMISSIONING OF USS BELOIT (LCS 29)
November 23, 2024, was a cloudy cold day at Milwaukee’s Veteran’s Park where 3,000 guests gathered to witness the commissioning of USS BELOIT (LCS 29).This is the first ship to bear the name BELIOT. Construction of the ship began in July 2020 and the ship...
COMMISSIONING OF USS NANTUCKET (LCS 27)
November 16, 2024, was a clear, crisp day in Boston’s historic Charlestown Navy Yard, the United States’ newest naval ship lay stern to stern with USS CONSTITUTION, the nation’s oldest commissioned warship. The commissioning ceremony would formally bring NANTUCKET into the United States Navy as...
COMMISSIONING OF USS JOHN BASILONE (DDG 122)
COMMISSIONING OF USS JOHN BASILONE (DDG 122)On Saturday, November 9, 2024, the second ship named for World War II hero and Medal of Honor Recipient, the USS JOHN BASILONE (DDG122), was placed into commission in New York City. The platform guests were led by the...
CHRISTENING OF USNS LUCY STONE (TAO 209)
CHRISTENING OF USNS LUCY STONE (TAO 209) On September 21, 2024 on a sunny warm day in San Diego, California, a large group assembled to witness the christening of USNS Lucy Stone (TAO 209) by co-sponsors Alicia Aadnesen and Debbie Simmons. The ship’s namesake was...
COMMISSIONING OF USS RICHARD M. MCCOOL JR. (LPD 29)
In Pensacola, Florida on September 7, 2024, the first ship named after Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Richard M. McCool Jr. was commissioned into the Fleet. The choice of Pensacola as a site for the event was met by rave reviews from crew, and attendees...
COMMISSIONING OF USS KINGSVILLE (LCS 36)
The commissioning of the USS Kingsville, LCS 36, was a wonderful event. It was held in Corpus Christi, Texas on August 24, 2024, on a beautiful, albeit warm day. Because of the intense heat, for safety reasons, the ceremony was held in the Solomon P....
Christening of USNS Point Loma (EPF 15)
The Christening of Point Loma, (EPF 15) was held on August 10, 2024 at Austal USA Shipyard, Mobile, Alabama. Elizabeth (Beth) Asher is the proud sponsor of the ship whose motto is: “Long Tradition, New Capabilities”. Platform guests included: the Honorable Nicholas Guertin, Assistant Secretary...
Christening of USS Patrick Gallagher DDG 127
The christening ceremony for the guided missile destroyer, USS PATRICK GALLAGHER (DDG 127), was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024, alongside the pier on the Kennebec River at Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics) in Bath, Maine. Ship sponsors are Teresa Gallagher Keegan,...
Christening of the USNS Cherokee Nation
CHRISTENING OF USNS CHEROKEE NATION (T-ATS 7)As part of the celebrations for the christening of the future USNS CHEROKEE NATION (T-ATS 7), Bollinger Shipyards in Houma, Louisiana hosted a dinner in honor of the Honorable Victoria Mitchell Vazquez, the ship’s sponsor. Mrs. Vazquez has a...
USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) Commissions in Namesake State
Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) commissioned at Port Hueneme aboard Naval Base Ventura County, April 1. "Littoral Combat Ships are versatile platforms. A successor in heritage to the escort fleets of the Second World War. They are fast, agile, and mission-tailored to operate...
USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Commissions
The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) in Duluth, Minnesota, May 21, 2022. Rep. Betty McCollum, Minnesota 4th District, was the principal speaker for the commissioning ceremony. The strength of America's national security, and the democratic values we hold dear, are...
Navy Commissions USS Oregon (SSN 793)
The Navy commissioned the fast-attack submarine USS Oregon (SSN 793) in a traditional ceremony held Saturday, May 28, at Naval Submarine Base New London. "Oregonians are deeply honored that the 20th Virginia-class submarine will bear the name of our state," said Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon, the ceremony's...
Electric Boat Christens Submarine PCU Iowa on June 17
Electric Boat christened the 24th submarine of the Virginia class, PCU Iowa (SSN 797), on Saturday, June 17, 2023, during a ceremony held at EB’s Groton shipyard. The submarine Iowa is the fourth U.S. Navy warship named after the 29th state, and the first submarine...
Christening of Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), USNS Cody
MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA christened its 14th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), USNS Cody, during a ceremony at its advanced manufacturing facility today. Cody is the first EPF Flight II as well as the first Navy vessel to honor the city of Cody, Wyo. The ceremony for the Navy’s...
Keel Laying commemorated for third ship in Gerald R. Ford-Class, the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80)
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – With the words, “I hereby declare the keel of the United States Ship Enterprise truly and fairly laid,” Olympians Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky chalked their initials on respective steel plates, which were then embossed by skilled welders and affixed to the keel...
USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) Commissions
The future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) currently moored in Port Everglades, in its name-sake city Fort Lauderdale, Fla., gets ready for Saturday’s commissioning ceremony. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sgt. Gavin Shelton, USMC) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Amphibious Transport Dock...
Navy Christens USS John Basilone
(Original article appears courtesy of Naval Today) The US Navy has christened the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) during a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The christening ceremony for the vessel, which is the second ship to honor Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone,...
USS Montana (SSN 794) Commissioned
NORFOLK (June 25, 2022) Sailors attached to the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Montana (SSN 794) man the boat during a commissioning ceremony in Norfolk, Va., June 25, 2022. SSN-794, the second U.S Navy vessel launched with the name Montana and first in more than a century, is a flexible,...
Future USNS John L. Canley is Christened
Expeditionary sea base USNS John L. Canley (ESB-6), Military Sealift Command’s newest ship, at its christening ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif. (Original article appears courtesy of the U.S. Navy) The future expeditionary sea base USNS John L. Canley (ESB-6) was christened during a ceremony...
USS Beloit Christened and Launched
Ship sponsor Major General Marcia M. Anderson delivers remarks before the christening and launch of the nation’s 29th Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Beloit. Lockheed Martin photo (Original article appears courtesy of Naval News) The Lockheed Martin-led shipbuilding team launched Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 29, the...
HII Christens USS Richard M. McCool Jr.
(Original article appears courtesy of HII) HII announced today that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the company’s 13th amphibious transport dock, Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), constructed for the U.S. Navy. “For nearly two decades, we have had the opportunity to build these amphibious ships, and we...