Northrop Grumman Newport News to Lay Keel

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Newport News sector is teamed with Electric Boat to build the first four ships of the Virginia-class. Texas is the second ship of the class and the first one that will undergo final assembly and delivery at Newport News in 2005. The keel that will be laid for Texas is part of the stern section of the ship. The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia. Other ceremony participants will include Northrop Grumman Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kent Kresa, Northrop Grumman Newport News President Tom Schievelbein, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, U.S. Sen. George Allen of Virginia, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark and Electric Boat President Mike Toner. Ceremony attendants will include both Northrop Grumman Newport News and Electric Boat employees who are building Texas, U.S. Navy officials and the Pre-Commissioning Unit for the Texas. The ceremony is not open to the public.