Congratulations, shipbuilders! NSC 10 Calhoun (WMSL 759) was commissioned Saturday in Charleston, SC, officially marking its entry into the U.S. Coast Guard fleet. The commissioning ceremony was held at Coast Guard Base Charleston and was presided over by Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan.
Several Ingalls shipbuilders were at the ceremony, including Derrick Conner, general foreman, Electrical; Julie Wilson, general foreman, Joiner/Insulation; and James Wilson, ship superintendent.
National Security Cutter Program Manager Amanda Whitaker represented our shipbuilders during the Calhoun commissioning dinner on Friday, sharing about our shipbuilders’ devotion to the mission.
“Our shipbuilder’s have built this ship with great quality and care, knowing she will keep the crew safe as they work to counter illicit maritime activities, strengthen our partnerships with other nations and facilitate the safety of life at sea,” said Whitaker.
Jason Frioux, NSC 10 ship program manager also joined Whitaker in presenting a watercolor painting of the national security cutter Calhoun to the crew, which was created by Ingalls shipbuilder Erinn Carty, manager, Branding & Art Production.
Ingalls Vice President of Program Management George Nungesser also provided remarks during the commissioning ceremony.
“With expertise and precision, our shipbuilders have constructed the cutter Calhoun to stand as a national symbol of strength, resilience and protection,” said Nungesser.
Nungesser also shared about the honor it has been to build national security cutters for the Coast Guard.
“We consider it an absolute honor and privilege to build these magnificent ships for the Coast Guard and, as shipbuilders, we are humbled to further Master Chief Calhoun’s legacy of ‘Never Give Up.’”
Calhoun is the 10th Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) to join the Coast Guard and is the fourth NSC to be homeported in North Charleston alongside Coast Guard Cutters Hamilton (WMSL 753), James (WMSL 754) and Stone (WMSL 758), which were all built at Ingalls, as well.
Calhoun’s namesake comes from the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, Charles L. Calhoun. Calhoun led a distinguished career, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II prior to enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1946. Calhoun’s Coast Guard career was marked by over 170 months of sea service, including service in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Calhoun became the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on Aug. 27, 1969, and was a champion for the service’s enlisted personnel and is responsible for bridging the gap between the command and enlisted workforce. The commissioning ceremony’s date of April 20 is in honor of Calhoun’s birthday.
Construction of Calhoun began at Ingalls in 2019 and the cutter was officially delivered to the Coast Guard in October 2023. After deploying in support of oil spill response and counter migration, Calhoun arrived at its homeport in North Charleston on Dec. 3, 2023. The commissioning of Calhoun officially places the cutter in service for the Coast Guard and marks the most significant milestone of the cutter’s life to date.
“What a monumental day for this crew, our service, and the legacy of Master Chief Calhoun,” said Capt. Sommella. “Now that Calhoun has entered active service, we are ready to serve alongside our fellow cutters and interagency partners in protecting the American people from threats here at home and abroad. The crew has worked tirelessly to see this day and is very proud.”
The 418-foot, Legend-class national security cutters are equipped with state-of-the-art command and control equipment, the ability to launch and house multiple small boats and aircraft, and an advanced engineering plant capable of reaching speeds of roughly 30 mph, making them the most versatile cutters in the Coast Guard fleet. The cutter’s primary missions will include counterdrug operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources and defense readiness in support of Coast Guard operations throughout the world.