The mood in the shipyard was not dampened at all by a few drops of rain that fell during the celebration of the naming of the ship. In fact, the governor noted that by Hawaiian tradition, the weather was a good sign.

EB President John P. Casey told the thousands of shipyard workers gathered for the event that they have every right to feel proud in their accomplishment.

"This ship embodies the skill and craft of thousands of industry and shipyard workers, and it directly reflects the nation's commitment to a strong national defense," Casey said. "We have achieved world-class standards as validated by a recent Department of Defense international study on shipyards."

Casey also recognized the contributions of Northrop Grumman Newport News, which has teamed with EB to build the Virginia class of submarines. Newport News President Mike Petters noted that the two yards have put aside a long rivalry to build the most advanced submarine ever produced.

Adm. Gary Roughead, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, noted that U.S. submarines have been stationed on Hawaii for more than 90 years, and today their presence is needed more than ever.



"I'm not a submariner, but I tell you that submarines are the most important tool that I have, and anti-submarine warfare is my number one warfighting priority," Roughead said.

GDEB Press Release
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