Michael D Stevens News

Robert "Bob" Walker, the U.S. Navy’s third Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) from September 25, 1975 to September 28, 1979, has passed away. Current MCPON (AW/NAC) Michael D. Stevens issued a statement on Walker’s passing: “It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of our Navy's third Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Robert "Bob" Walker. He passed away peacefully at 1715 with his wife and family members by his side. Our office will provide dates and times for his memorial and funeral services as they become available.”

General Dynamics Electric Boat will christen (SSN-778), the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine, at a ceremony at its shipyard on Saturday, June 21. Cheryl McGuinness of , is the ship's sponsor. McGuinness lost her husband, Tom McGuinness, on September 11, 2001, in the attacks. He was the co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, which was flown into the north tower of the . The event's principal speaker is Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. Cmdr. Michael J. Stevens, a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is the ship's commanding officer. The is the fifth ship of the class, the first U.S. Navy combatants designed for the post-Cold War era.