Future USS Sam Nunn Keel Laying Marks Milestone in Naval Construction

The keel for the future USS Sam Nunn (DDG 133), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was laid at a ceremony on November 22 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The construction event took place at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division and marked a significant step in the ship’s development.

This ship honors Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr., a former United States Senator from Georgia. Sen. Nunn’s contributions as Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations reflected his enduring commitment to national defense.

Both Sen. Nunn and his daughter Michelle Nunn, who is the ship’s sponsor, attended the ceremonial event. During a keel laying, foundational components of the ship are assembled. The ceremony included the etching of Michelle Nunn’s and Sen. Nunn’s initials into the keel plate, signifying the ship’s solid foundation.

Captain Seth Miller, the DDG 51 class program manager from the Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships), emphasized the ship’s symbolic significance. He asserted that the USS Sam Nunn will embody the Senator’s legacy and his dedication to military personnel. It’s expected to enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities significantly.

These DDG 51 Flight III destroyers come equipped with the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar. They boast advancements in electrical power and cooling, substantially boosting the Navy’s warfighting abilities.

In addition to the USS Sam Nunn, several future destroyers, including the USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and the USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), are under construction at Ingalls. This initiative underscores the Department of Defense’s commitment to strengthening naval infrastructure.

PEO Ships, one of the Department of Defense’s major acquisition organizations, oversees the production and procurement of various naval vessels. Their responsibilities span destroyers, amphibious ships, and specialized mission ships, reflecting their substantial role within national defense strategies.