WHITTIER, Alaska - The U.S. Navy will commission its newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 12 p.m. AKDT in Whittier, Alaska.
The commissioning of USS Ted Stevens delivers an immediate, decisive expansion in surface fleet lethality and global deterrence. Engineered to prevail in contested environments, the warship integrates the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, establishing unparalleled Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities across simultaneous anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense operational profiles.
The ship and its commissioning location honor the legacy of the late Senator Ted Stevens, who was a decorated Army Air Corps pilot in World War II, flying hazardous transport missions over "The Hump" in the China-Burma-India theater. Returning to Alaska following World War II, he became a champion of Alaska statehood. Stevens later served in the U.S. Senate from December 1968 until January 2009, where he served as the president pro tempore in the 108th and 109th Congresses and was the third U.S. Senator to hold the title of president pro tempore emeritus. In the Senate, Stevens promoted national security, worked to strengthen our military with modern weapons, new facilities, and improved pay and benefits. Selecting Whittier highlights Alaska's critical strategic geography and reinforces the Navy's persistent operational readiness to secure vital high-latitude sea lanes and defend the homeland.
The ship's sponsors are Mrs. Catherine Ann Stevens, Senator Stevens' wife, and his daughters, Mrs. Susan Stevens Covich and Mrs. Lily Stevens Becker. In accordance with naval tradition, the sponsors will order the crew to "Man our ship and bring her to life!" As sponsors, they will represent the ship's enduring connection to the Stevens family throughout the vessel's operational lifetime.
From the North Pacific campaigns of World War II to current Arctic operations, the Navy and Alaska have maintained a shared commitment to defending the nation's northernmost sea lanes. Today, the Navy maintains a persistent operational presence in Alaska by conducting high-latitude maritime security patrols, cold-weather warfare training, and joint-force exercises designed to project decisive naval power, secure critical sea lanes, and defend the homeland.
Following commissioning, USS Ted Stevens will transit to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, joining the operational fleet fully prepared to deploy in support of national defense priorities and global maritime security.
The commissioning of the USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) underscores the Navy's commitment to building America's Golden Fleet. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally. That mission continues - and intensifies. We operate forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability delivery, and the Golden Fleet is our answer.
The commissioning ceremony will stream on the Defense Video Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) at https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/38076 . The live stream will begin at 11:50 a.m. EDT, and the ceremony will begin at 12:00 p.m. AKDT on Oct. 3.
Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342.
