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18 Dec 2023

Ingalls Authenticates Keel of Destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131)

Ingalls Structural Welder Morris Johnson welds the initials of Kelley Neal Gray onto the keel plate that will be permanently part of George M. Neal (DDG 131). (Photo: HII)

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has authenticated the keel of the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131).George M. Neal (DDG 131) is the fourth Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls. Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability including the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System…

22 Sep 2023

Two New Members Join SAFE Boats Board of Directors

William “Dean” Lee (Photo: SAFE Boats International)

Bremerton, Wash. based boatbuilder SAFE Boats International announced that retired Vice Admiral William “Dean” Lee and Tom Norton have joined its board of directors.Vice Admiral Lee served in the U. S. Coast Guard for more than 36-years, most recently serving as the Commander, Atlantic Area (LANTAREA), responsible for all Coast Guard operations from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf. During his service to the Nation, he served in numerous command and staff positions specializing in search and rescue and small boat operations.

28 Apr 2023

Protecting Offshore Energy Sources via USV

Photo courtesy Mr. Dave Meron

When most people discuss energy sources such as fossil fuel and green energy, it is from an “either-or” perspective. Some favor the former while others advocate for the latter. However, what is often lost in the arguments on both sides is that regardless of the type of energy being extracted or generated, those platforms that are offshore, especially oil rigs, oil and gas pipelines, and wind farms, are incredibly vulnerable to anyone who wants to attack these sources in wartime…

17 Aug 2022

Ingalls Authenticates Keel of US Navy Destroyer Jeremiah Denton

(Photo: HII)

HII on Wednesday announced its Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). The ship’s name honors former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton Jr., a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism while a prisoner of war.“Today, we honor the example of heroism and dedicated service to our nation set by the namesake of this ship,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “The inspiring story of Senator Denton reminds us of why we do what we do every day here at Ingalls.

13 Apr 2022

US Navy Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. Sails Away From Ingalls

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) departed HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Friday, April 8, 2022. (Photo: HII)

U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) departed from HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. on Friday. The new warship will be commissioned next month in Charleston, S.C., before sailing to its homeport at Hawaii’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.Frank E. Petersen Jr. is the 33rd destroyer Ingalls has built for the U.S. Navy, with five more currently under construction at Ingalls, including Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) and George M.

06 Dec 2021

HII Begins Building Destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131)

Ingalls Burner specialist Jason Jackson, right, starts fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131) in the Ingalls Shipbuilding Steel Fabrication Shop, observed by Bob Poppenhouse, Ingalls DDG 131 ship program manager; Matt Park, general foreman for Ingalls Fabrication Shop; and Lance Carnahan, director of Ingalls Hull department. (Photo: HII)

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Monday officially started fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131).“Start of fabrication is our first opportunity to formally celebrate and reflect on our contributions as shipbuilders,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We are very proud of what we do here for the country and endeavor to do our part…

19 Mar 2021

US Coast Guard Commissions National Security Cutter Stone

USCGC Stone (WMSL 758). (Photo: John Cardinal / U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday commissioned its newest national security cutter, USCGC Stone (WMSL 758), during a ceremony at Coast Guard Base Charleston, in South Carolina. Adm. Karl Schultz, the commandant U.S. Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony.Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., Stone is the ninth legend-class national security cutter in the Coast Guard's fleet.Legend-class national security cutters are 418 feet in length, 54 feet in beam and 4,600 long tons in displacement.

10 Nov 2020

Ingalls Delivers National Security Cutter Stone

National Security Cutter Stone (WMSL 758) sails in the Gulf of Mexico during builder’s sea trials earlier this year. (Photo by Lance Davis / HII)

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has delivered National Security Cutter Stone (WMSL 758) to the U.S. Coast Guard.Documents signed Monday mark the official transfer of custody of the ship from HII to the Coast Guard. Stone is scheduled to sail away from the Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard at the end of this year to its homeport in Charleston, S.C.The Legend-class NSC is the most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet, which enables it to meet the high demands required for maritime and homeland security…

02 Oct 2020

USCG National Security Cutter Stone Passes Acceptance Trials

Ingalls Shipbuilding completed acceptance trials for the U.S. Coast Guard’s ninth National Security Cutter, Stone (WMSL 758). (Photo: Lance Davis / HII)

The U.S. Coast Guard’s ninth national security cutter, Stone (WMSL 758), has completed acceptance sea trials, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced Friday.Having recently spent two days in the Gulf of Mexico proving its systems, Stone is scheduled to deliver later this year and will be homeported in Charleston, S.C.Ingalls in Pascagoula, Miss. has delivered eight Legend-class NSCs with two more under construction and one additional under…

14 Sep 2020

Video: National Security Cutter Stone Completes Builder's Trials

National security cutter Stone (WMSL 758) spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico testing propulsion and auxiliary equipment, as well as various shipboard systems. (Photo: Lance Davis/Huntington Ingalls Industries)

The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest national security cutter Stone (WMSL 758) completed builder’s sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. The new ship, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., spent three days testing propulsion and auxiliary equipment, as well as various shipboard systems, Ingalls announced Monday.“Every successful sea trial is a major accomplishment for our shipbuilders, but this set proved to be a particularly substantial undertaking,” said Jay Boyd, Ingalls’ NSC program manager.

02 Apr 2020

Hepburn and Sons Adds Senior Naval Talent

David Rice (Photo: Hepburn and Sons)

The Hepburn and Sons LLC team welcomed David Rice, CAPT David Bauer, USN (Ret), and Gary Loberg as their newest members. David Rice serves as Senior Consultant, Material Science. David Bauer will serve as the Senior Manager, Material Science. Gary Loberg serves as Senior Manager, Advisory Services.David Rice comes to Hepburn and Sons, LLC after a career spanning 45 years at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). During his time at NNS he served as the Manager of Contracted Research & Development and was responsible for Research & Development Programs funded by ONR/ManTech…

31 Mar 2020

'Sailors Do Not Need to Die,' Warns Captain of Coronavirus-hit US Aircraft Carrier

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Philippine Sea in February 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Sean Lynch)

The captain of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, in a blunt letter, has called on Navy leadership for stronger measures to save the lives of his sailors and stop the spread of the coronavirus aboard the huge ship.The four-page letter, the contents of which were confirmed by U.S. officials to Reuters on Tuesday, described a bleak situation on board the nuclear-powered carrier as more and more sailors test positive for the virus.The Navy puts the ship’s complement at 5…

24 Dec 2019

St. Louis Regional Freightway: The Year in Review

Photo: St. Louis Regional Freightway

The St. Louis Regional Freightway has compiled a summary of the major developments over the past year that either elevated the St. Louis region’s global status as a world-class freight hub or will help to advance the region’s position as the country’s freight nexus in the year ahead.“From mega projects breaking ground and global companies choosing to invest here, to newly formed partnerships that strengthen the bi-state region’s role in national and global supply chains, there was much to be excited about in 2019…

08 Oct 2018

Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. Christened

Ship Sponsors Alicia J. Petersen (left) and D’Arcy Neller (right) christen DDG 121, the destroyer named for Petersen’s late husband, Frank E. Petersen Jr. Also pictured (left to right) are retired Gen. Alfred Gray, former commandant of the Marine Corps and keynote speaker at the christening; Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias; and Gen. Robert Neller, the 37th commandant of the Marine Corps. (Photo by Derek Fountain/HII)

U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), the 71st in the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class of destroyers and the 33rd built by Ingalls.DDG 121 honors Frank Emmanuel Petersen Jr., who was the Marine Corps’ first African-American aviator and the service’s first African-American general. After entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1950, Petersen would…

16 Jul 2018

Guided Missile Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. Launched

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) on Friday. (Photo: HII)

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) on Friday.Frank E. Petersen Jr. was translated via Ingalls’ rail car system to a floating dry dock. Once on, the dry dock was moved away from the pier, and it was ballasted down to float the ship.“This is the one of the most significant milestones in the life of any ship,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias.

14 Mar 2017

Carl Vinson Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Ship's Commissioning

The crew of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) celebrated the ship's 35th commissioning ceremony March 13 while on a regularly-scheduled Western Pacific deployment. Capt. Eric Anduze, Carl Vinson's executive officer, announced the cake cutting ceremony via a message on the ship's general announcing system while summarizing 35 years of Carl Vinson's highlights, which included numerous deployments since 1983, one earthquake response and the burial-at-sea of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Congressman Carl Vinson, for whom the aircraft carrier is named, served more than 50 years in the House of Representatives. During his tenure, he also served as Chairman of the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services Committee.

22 Feb 2017

Keel Laid for USS Frank E. Petersen

The keel of future guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121) was ceremoniously laid Feb. 21 at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard. Although official construction of DDG 121 began April 2016, the keel laying symbolically recognizes the ceremonial beginning of the ship. The keel was said to be "fairly and truly laid" and was authenticated by D'Arcy Neller, the ship's sponsor, and Donald Brabston, a master Ingalls shipbuilder. "The keel laying is the symbolic first step in shaping our nation's newest destroyer," said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "The ship will be a lasting tribute to Frank E. Frank E. Petersen, Jr. was the first African-American aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general.

22 Feb 2017

Ingalls authenticates keel of DDG 121

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) today. The ship, named in honor of the U.S. Marine Corps’ first African-American general, will be the 33rd Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer Ingalls has built for the U.S. Navy. “DDGs are traditionally named after great men and women in the history of our Navy, and the namesake of DDG 121 is a true trailblazer and an American hero,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said at a shipyard ceremony. “Like her namesake, DDG 121 will be strong and capable. D’Arcy Neller, the wife of Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller, is the ship’s sponsor.

01 Jul 2016

This Day In Naval History: July 1

Rear Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. (U.S. Navy photo)

1801 - Commodore Richard Dale's squadron arrives at Gibraltar for the protection of American interests and to strike at the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean. Squadron ships were USS President, USS Philadelphia, USS Essex, and USS Enterprise. 1850 - The Naval School at Annapolis, Md., is renamed the U.S. Naval Academy and adopts a four-year course of study. Also on this date, Commander Cornelius K. Stribling becomes the first Superintendent of the Naval Academy and serves until the fall of 1853.

12 Jul 2016

This Day In Naval History: July 12

U.S. Navy fighter aircraft perform a flyover at the conclusion of the commissioning ceremony of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). (U.S. Navy photo by Rusty Black)

1836 - Charles H. Haswell is commissioned as the first regularly appointed Engineer Officer. In Oct. 1844, he is promoted to Engineer in Chief of the Navy. 1916 - The AB-3 flying boat, piloted by Lt. Godfrey de Chevalier, is catapulted from USS North Carolina (ACR 12) while underway in Pensacola Bay, Fla. The launch completes calibration of the first catapult designed for shipboard use. 1943 - USS Taylor (DD 468) sinks Japanese submarine (RO 107), east of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands.

16 Jul 2016

Tighe Takes Charge of Information Warfare, Naval Intelligence

Vice Adm. Jan Tighe assumed the duties of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Information Warfare (N2N6) and Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI) July 15 at the Pentagon. Tighe succeeded Vice Adm. Ted N. "Twig" Branch, who has submitted his retirement request following a 37-year Naval career. Branch assumed office as the DCNO for Information Warfare/DNI in July 2013. He also served as lead for the Navy's Information Warfare (IW) Community, which brings together the people and capabilities of the Navy's Communications, Networks, Intelligence, Oceanography, Meteorology, Cryptology, Electronic Warfare, Cyberspace Operations and Space areas to the fight. He also served as the Navy's Chief Information Officer and as the Director of Navy Cybersecurity. He was the 65th DNI.

30 Aug 2016

This Day In Naval History: August 30

USS Colorado (BB 45) (Photo: USNHC, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center)

1923 - USS Colorado (BB 45) is commissioned. Notable during her pre-World War II service, she helps in the search for missing aviator, Amelia Earhart, in 1937. During WWII, USS Colorado serves in the Pacific during World War II and is hit by kamikazes at Leyte in November 1944. 1929 - At New London, Conn., 26 officers and men test the Momsen lung to exit an intentionally-bottomed submarine. The device was created by Lt. C.B. Momsen following the failure to save surviving crew members trapped in USS S-4 (SS 109) that sank after a collision with Coast Guard cutter USS Paulding in 1927.

10 Nov 2016

Latest Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyer Named

In a ceremony Nov. 9, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG 121, will be named Frank E. Petersen Jr., in honor of the Marine Corps lieutenant general who was the first African-American Marine Corps aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general officer. In 1950, two years after President Harry S. Truman desegregated the armed forces, Petersen enlisted in the Navy. In 1952, Petersen was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He would go on to fly 350 combat missions during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He also went on to become the first African-American in the Marine Corps to command a fighter squadron, an air group and a major base.