By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rebekah Blowers, Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
BATH, Maine (NNS) -- The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) spoke at the christening ceremony for the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) on Oct. 18.
Adm. Gary Roughead, CNO, highlighted that this ship is named after the man who is known as the father of Aegis, a highly advanced integrated combat system that is used on all U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyers and Ticonderoga class cruisers. Roughead was the first officer to have commanded both classes of Aegis-capable ships.
"Admiral Meyer delivered a great leap in defense technology, one that has given us the flexibility to adjust to emerging threats over several decades, and as we have seen recently, it will be able to adjust to emerging threats for decades to come," Roughead said. "To me the fact that one officer had the vision, the drive, and the passion to ensure that the Navy has the best fleet in the world, is exactly the point when it comes to naming this ship."
Roughead also said he couldn't be more pleased to have Anna Mae Meyer, Adm. Meyer's wife, as the ship's sponsor. He said she has been an equal and a partner in Wayne's endeavors.
"She's worked with the engineers; she's worked with the military; she's worked with our civil servants to help bring the AEGIS weapons program to life. Her energy, her drive and her intellect will be the spirit of this ship," Roughead said.
CNO said that like Adm. Meyer, every Sailor has the unique opportunity to make incredible contributions to fields that will benefit the Navy. He also thanked the Bath Iron Works shipbuilders for all the hard work, innovation and dedication they put in to making the ship complete.
"You are going to provide, as this ship is christened and launched, a capability and the capacity we need to protect our interests; to provide the security that is vital to our prosperity; to prevent conflict; and when necessary, and as has always been the case in the United States Navy, to win in war," the CNO said.