USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) is part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and is currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world.
DDG 117 is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built at Ingalls Shipbuilding. It’s named for Paul Ignatius, who served as United States Secretary of the Navy under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967 to 1969. Ignatius had previously served as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II.
Paul Ignatius was launched in November 2016 and was christened on April 8, 2017. The ship was commissioned on July 27, 2019, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The ship was sponsored by Ignatius' wife Nancy before her death and that role was taken over by their granddaughter, Dr. Elisa Ignatius. USS Paul Ignatius is homeported in Rota, Spain.