Late last week, on April 24th, Huntington Ingalls Industries delivered a newly finished guided missile destroyer to the United States Navy. The Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) is the first ship named in honor of Navy veteran Delbert D. Black who served as a gunner’s mate during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, aboard the USS Maryland (BB 46).
The ship is currently scheduled to sail away from the shipyard this August and marks the 32nd state-of-the-art destroyer Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered to the Navy. “Our workforce plays a critical role in protecting those who serve our nation. We continue to fulfill our mission as shipbuilders by building highly capable warships that meet and exceed the needs of our military partners” said company President Brian Cuccias.
HII currently has four additional DDGs under construction which include Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) and Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123).
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable warships designed around the Aegis Combat System. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh Burke who served as a U.S. Navy destroyer officer during World War II and was later Chief of Naval Operations.
Designed as multi-mission destroyers, these ships are able to complete strategic land strikes with antiaircraft missiles, Tomahawk missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and serve in an anti-submarine warfare capacity. They can also launch ASW helicopters, anti-submarine rockets, and harpoon missiles for anti-surface warfare operations. This ability to compete in air, surface, and subsurface battles makes them a vitally critical component of the United States Navy fleet.
On Friday, Donny Dorsey, Ingalls DDG 119 Ship Program Manager; Commander Matthew McKenna, DDG 119 Prospective Commanding Officer; and Peter T. Christman III, DDG 51 Project Office, SUPSHIP Gulf Coast signed the DD 250 to transfer custody of the ship to the United States Navy at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS.
Judy Bell has been with Ameri-Force since 2013 and currently serves as the Director of Gulf Coast Operations. Judy has a strong background in recruiting and human resources dating back to 2002. She has a reputation of building lasting relationships with candidates who know she will work tirelessly to keep them working.
Photo credit Lance Davis/HII
