Congratulations, Shipbuilders! Ingalls Shipbuilding authenticated the keel today of Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer Sam Nunn (DDG 133). The ship’s name honors Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr., a former U.S. Senator from Georgia and co-founder of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Nunn was in attendance for the ceremony and was joined by his daughter and ship sponsor, Michelle Nunn.
“It is truly an honor to commemorate this moment in the life of the future USS Sam Nunn,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson. “It continues an important journey for Ingalls shipbuilders in delivering what they do best: hard work, craftsmanship and quality in support of the Navy and the nation. It is a fitting tribute to the public service of Senator Nunn and his commitment to making a difference in the world.”
A native of Georgia, Nunn served in the Georgia House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. During his tenure as senator, Nunn served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. His legislative achievements include the landmark Department of Defense Reorganization Act and the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program which deactivated more than 7,600 nuclear warheads.
The ship’s sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Michelle Nunn, joined her father and Ingalls Structural Welder Adam Lee in welding their initials onto a steel plate, signifying the keel of DDG 133 as being “truly and fairly laid.” The plate will remain affixed to the ship throughout its lifetime.
“What a joy for our extended Nunn family and community to celebrate the laying of the keel of USS Sam Nunn,” said Michelle Nunn. “I am so honored to assume the role as this ship’s sponsor and I hope that my father’s values of determination, integrity, and service will inspire the sailors of DDG 133.”
Sam Nunn (DDG 133) is the fifth Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls. Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability including the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System that are designed to keep pace with the threats well into the 21st century.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Guided missile destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. surface fleet and are capable of fighting multiple air, surface and subsurface threats simultaneously.