Litton Ingalls delivers its 14^th Aegis destroyer to U.S. Navy

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi, February 5, 2001 - A large group of U.S. Navy personnel and employees from Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding gathered on the flight deck of the Aegis guided missile destroyer LASSEN (DDG 82) Monday morning to witness the ship’s delivery to the U.S. Navy.

The ship, which has been under construction at the shipyard since her first plate of steel was cut on September 8, 1997, is scheduled to leave the shipyard in mid-April and sail to Tampa, Florida for her commissioning into the U.S. Pacific Fleet on April 21.

"A network of Ingalls employees, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Aegis Test Team and DDG 82 crew members have all worked together with many suppliers and subcontractors to make this day possible," said Ingalls President Dave Wright. "When we deliver one of these ships, it’s like one of your children leaving home for the first time. However, we have no trepidation about this because we know this crew will take fine care of this ship. Congratulations to Commander (Sean) O’Connor and this fine crew, and we’ll see you in Tampa for the commissioning."

In naming DDG 82, the United States Navy honors Commander Clyde Everett Lassen, USN, (1942-1994), a native of Fort Myers, Florida, who earned the Medal of Honor for his courageous rescue of two downed aviators while in command of a search and rescue helicopter in Vietnam. He became the first naval aviator and fifth Navy man to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in Vietnam.

"We stand here today on the world’s most advanced warship. LASSEN has the best hardware, the latest software and is built to the highest quality of standard known in the shipbuilding industry," said Ron Davis, Deputy Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Pascagoula. "We have presented LASSEN to the Navy’s toughest assessor of ship quality " the President of the Board of Inspection and Survey " and he has agreed with our assessment that LASSEN (DDG 82) is ready for sea."

"I want to thank Ingalls Shipbuilding for delivering us a great ship," said DDG 82's Prospective Commanding Officer, Commander Sean E. O’Connor, USN, a native of Rumson, New Jersey, and a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. "The relationship that this shipyard has with the crew is exceptional. Ingalls is determined to make the crew the most satisfied customer and that is the characteristic that sets them apart. Our ship has a wonderful legacy in Commander Clyde Lassen. His legacy of selfless dedication to duty is something we can look to and build on as we take this ship to sea and build her reputation."

Following her commissioning on April 21, LASSEN will be homeported in San Diego, California.