U.S. Navy:
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Navy will commission its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the future USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, July 27, at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The ship is named in honor of Paul Robert Ignatius, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and later during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics) 1964-1967, and Secretary of the Navy 1967-1969.
Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer, who is also performing the duties of Deputy Secretary of Defense, will deliver the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Ignatius’ wife, Nancy, who passed away earlier this year, is the ship’s sponsor. Dr. Elisa Ignatius, granddaughter to the late Nancy Ignatius, will serve as the ship sponsor representative. Dr. Ignatius will honor Naval tradition when she gives the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”
