The keel authentication of the future USS Thad Cochran (DDG 135) doesn’t just mark the start of a new ship. It honors a man whose work behind the scenes helped make many of the ships built at Ingalls possible – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, one of Mississippi’s longest-serving lawmakers.
For six terms in the U.S. Senate, Cochran was a tireless advocate for Mississippi industries, none more so than Ingalls. He understood that the strength of the Navy and the prosperity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast went hand in hand. Keeping the Navy ready meant keeping Ingalls strong, and keeping Ingalls strong meant thousands of Mississippians could count on steady work and thriving communities.
Cochran’s seniority and key roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Defense Subcommittee gave him the leverage to fight for shipbuilding funding. He backed defense bills that delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to Ingalls, including $629 million for multiple ship constructions and $1 billion in procurement funding for the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28). When budget cuts or uncertainty threatened projects, Cochran safeguarded the yard's work and secured contracts when budget cuts or uncertainty threatened projects.
He didn’t just push numbers on a page. He came to the Gulf Coast to meet the workforce and see their craft firsthand.
“One of the most important responsibilities of the federal government is ensuring America remains the strongest military power in the world. The people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast play a critical role in this mission,” Cochran said during a 2014 visit to Ingalls.
For thousands of shipbuilders, the senator’s efforts meant job stability. For Mississippi’s economy, it meant growth and opportunity. For the nation, it meant a stronger Navy with warfighters ready to protect peace wherever they are called.
As DDG 135 takes shape, it carries more than steel. It carries the legacy of one of Mississippi’s own sons.
Senator Cochran’s tireless dedication to Ingalls shipbuilders serves as a lasting reminder that the work done here matters far beyond the Gulf Coast.
Want to learn more about Senator Cochran’s life? Click here.