Navy Commissions USS Ted Stevens, Honoring Senator's Defense Advocacy

The Navy commissioned its newest destroyer, the USS Ted Stevens, into active service during a formal ceremony in Whittier, Alaska, Oct. 3.

The commissioning marks an immediate, decisive leap in naval warfighting readiness and surface fleet lethality. As the second Flight III destroyer, the ship provides combatant commanders with unmatched integrated air and missile defense capabilities, directly supporting War Department priorities to enforce maritime dominance, secure contested sea lanes and project credible deterrence worldwide. 

The ship and its commissioning location honor the legacy of the late Sen. Ted Stevens, a decorated combat aviator and lifelong champion for the state of Alaska and the nation’s armed forces. Selecting the strategic deep-water port of Whittier highlights Alaska’s enduring maritime significance and the historic partnership between the state and the Navy.

“Woosh-Jee-een” is a phrase in the southeast Alaskan indigenous language Tlingit meaning “working together” or “pulling together,” reflecting the spirit of partnership between the Navy, the Stevens family, the crew and the people of Alaska. 

Stevens served as an Army Air Forces pilot during World War II, flying hazardous transport missions over “The Hump” in the China-Burma-India theater, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals. After the war, he played an instrumental role in securing Alaska’s statehood in 1959.  

During four decades in the U.S. Senate, from 1968 to 2009, he served as president pro tempore and president pro tempore emeritus, dedicating his career to modernizing the armed forces, bolstering national security, and ensuring warfighters were equipped to fight and win.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao highlighted the significance of the crew’s role in bringing the ship to life as it began its commissioned service. 

“[The] USS Ted Stevens is no longer preparing to join the fleet. Today, Ted Stevens is the fleet,” Cao said. “Today, [the] USS Ted Stevens stands ready to defend the homeland, deter aggression, and when called upon, fight and win.” 

During the ceremony, the ship’s sponsors, Catherine Ann Stevens, the late senator’s wife, and his daughters, Susan Stevens Covich and Lily Stevens Becker, gave the traditional naval order: “Man our ship and bring her to life!”  

At that command, the commissioning crew ran aboard to man the rails, set the first watch and bring the warship’s advanced combat systems to full operational status. 

“I am deeply honored and proud to be your sponsor, along with my mother and sister,” Becker said. “As you wake up every day, know that we and every person here believe in you to take care of this ship, take care of each other, and to uphold the peace and safety of our nation.” 

The ship’s motto, “Lead with Courage,” serves as an operational mandate that reflects Stevens’ wartime bravery and channels it into the aggressive combat posture required of today’s surface warriors.

“To my crew, my shipmates, the men and women who are the heart and soul of this great ship, you have exceeded all expectations,” said Navy Capt. Mary Katey Hayes, the USS Ted Stevens commanding officer. “We are ready to answer our nation’s call. We are ready to defend freedom, whether the winds of war blow near the rugged coast of Alaska, or in the far reaches of the globe.” 

From the Pacific campaigns of World War II to modern Arctic maritime operations, the Navy and Alaska share a deep commitment to homeland defense. The commissioning in Whittier emphasizes the Navy’s persistent operational presence in high-latitude environments to deter northern flank aggression and safeguard critical maritime routes. 

The USS Ted Stevens is built around the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, delivering a generational leap in simultaneous antiair warfare and ballistic missile defense. Featuring enhanced electrical power distribution and expanded cooling capacity, the destroyer is engineered to operate in high-threat environments and integrate seamlessly with joint and coalition forces. 

Following post-commissioning operations, the USS Ted Stevens will transit to its permanent home port in Norfolk, Virginia, fully prepared to deploy worldwide.