Ingalls Shipbuilding holds Keel Authentication Ceremony for Ted Stevens DDG 128
Ingalls Shipbuilding hosted a keel authentication ceremony for the Ted Stevens DDG 128.
To formally mark the start of the construction on the Arleigh-Burke Class guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens, DDG 128, a keel laying ceremony took place with the family of former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. DDG 51 Program Manager John Fillmore said, “As much as he devoted his life to public service, over 40 years as a senator, a lot of economic and social programs he instituted in Alaska and then to see the family’s sponsor here really is an honor.”
The DDG 128 is to honor the life of Ted Stevens who served as a pilot in World War II and later as a senator representing Alaska. At the time he left office in 2009, he was the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator in history. Ted Stevens’ wife, Catherine Stevens said, “Having Ted honored, someone that really cared about having our military ready, capable, ahead of some of so many threats in the world, it’s tremendous to see this construction and how many people worked on this and are working on it.”
At the ceremony, the family left their mark by welding their initials into a ceremonial plate. “Very proud and honored for the naming of the ship.”
The DDG 128 is currently under construction with about 35 percent of the ship complete. The goal is to have the ship officially complete by the summer of 2022. “The future of Ted Stevens is the 36th Arleigh Burke Destroyer that we have built here at Ingalls Shipbuilding. It is the second flight three ship that we are building here at Ingalls.”
Catherine Stevens, Ted’s wife of 29 years, says he would be overjoyed knowing his work will continue to impact people’s lives. “It’s a marvelous moment.”
