{"id":979740,"date":"2026-07-08T10:21:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T14:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-to-host-christening-ceremony-for-destroyer-george-m-neal-ddg-131\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T10:21:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T14:21:47","slug":"hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-to-host-christening-ceremony-for-destroyer-george-m-neal-ddg-131","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-to-host-christening-ceremony-for-destroyer-george-m-neal-ddg-131\/","title":{"rendered":"HII\u2019s Ingalls Shipbuilding to Host Christening Ceremony For Destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n What:<\/strong>\n <\/td>\nHII\u2019s Ingalls Shipbuilding division will host the christening ceremony for the future USS\u00a0George M. Neal<\/em> (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke<\/em>-class destroyer to be built at the shipyard, Sat., July 11. This event is<\/strong>\u00a0NOT open to the public but will be livestreamed at the following link<\/strong>:
https:\/\/www.hii.com\/events\/DDG131<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n Who:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/td>\nMedia members are invited to the christening event and to attend the media preview day on Friday, July 10. The media preview day will include a visit to the christening site for media to capture b-roll of ceremony preparations. Media will also have opportunities to speak with the ship\u2019s sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelley Neal Gray, as well as Ingalls shipbuilders and leadership.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n Where:<\/strong>\n <\/td>\nIngalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Media will park at the Human Resource Building located at 1000 Jerry St. P\u00e9 HWY, Pascagoula, MS 39567 both days and will be escorted to and from the event site.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n When:<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n\n Media Preview Day
<\/strong>Friday, July 10, 2026
Media check-in: 8:30 a.m., Event begins at 9:00 a.m., Concludes by 11:30 a.m.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\u00a0<\/td>\n\n Christening Ceremony
<\/strong>Saturday, July 11, 2026
Media check-in: 8:15 a.m., Event begins at 9:00 a.m.
Interviews will take place post-ceremony.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n Why:<\/strong>\n <\/td>\nThe christening milestone marks a significant step in the construction of the U.S. Navy\u2019s next\u00a0Arleigh Burke<\/em>-class guided missile destroyer. The preview day will provide media with background, access, and interviews to help tell the story of the ship, its namesake, and the Ingalls shipbuilders who built it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n RSVP:
<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n		Confirmation of media attendance is required for both events. Please RSVP by\u00a0noon<\/strong> on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.<\/strong> You must present a photo ID and be a U.S. citizen to be admitted to the events. Please RSVP to:\u00a0Kimberly Aguillard, Kimberly.K.Aguillard@hii-co.com<\/a>, 228-355-5663.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n Details:
<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n		DDG 131 is named for George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran and an aviation machinist\u2019s mate third class who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member under enemy fire.<\/p>\n

As a Flight III Arleigh Burke\u2011class destroyer, DDG 131 represents the next generation of surface combatants for the U.S. Navy, featuring the Flight III AN\/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, designed to counter threats well into the 21st century.<\/p>\n

Ingalls Shipbuilding currently has five Flight III destroyers under construction, with seven more in early pre-planning and material procurement phases.<\/p>\n

For more information about the George M. Neal <\/em>(DDG 131) christening visit,\u00a0https:\/\/www.hii.com\/events\/DDG131<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\n About HII<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

HII is America\u2019s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world\u2019s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.<\/p>\n

With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI\/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII\u2019s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:<\/p>\n