Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted a ceremonial event on August 25, 2021 at its Newport News Shipbuilding division that marked the first construction milestone in the life of the aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81).
During a small ceremony held inside of a manufacturing facility, Thomas Bledsoe, the great nephew of the ship’s namesake, gave the order to «cut that steel» to shipbuilder Gerald Bish, who operated a large plasma-cutting machine that sliced into a steel plate. Shipbuilders, U.S. Navy leadership, elected officials and Doris Miller’s relatives signed their names on the plate.
«Today we recognize the start of construction of the fourth ship of the Gerald R. Ford class», said Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding. «From this day forward, our shipbuilders will put their hearts into every pipe they fit, every unit they lift and every inch of steel they weld. Shipbuilders, I thank you for the hard work, innovation and dedication you will put into transforming this first piece of steel into an awe-inspiring aircraft carrier».
Ceremony participants included U.S. Representative Bobby Scott, Democratic-Virginia, who offered remarks; Rear Admiral James Downey, program executive officer for aircraft carriers; Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy Russell Smith; shipbuilders and six members of Doris Miller’s family.
«It is so fitting and timely during a period of significant discussion and change we come together to begin construction of one of our Navy’s next great aircraft carriers, in the name of one of the finest heroes of the greatest generation», Downey said. «We will construct a sound and mighty warship worthy of his legacy».
Members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation, including Representatives Rob Wittman, Republican-Virginia and Elaine Luria, Democratic-Virginia also attended the event. Other guests included, and Captain Andrew P. Johnson, commanding officer of Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Newport News.
USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) is the second ship named in honor of Miller, and the first aircraft carrier ever named for an African American. This also is the first aircraft carrier named in honor of a sailor for actions while serving in the enlisted ranks.
Miller is credited with heroic actions while serving aboard the Newport News-built USS West Virginia (BB-48) during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Miller’s bravery earned him the Navy Cross.
USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) also is the second ship of the two-carrier contract award HII received in January 2019 for the detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers; USS Enterprise (CVN-80) being the first ship of the contract.
Newport News currently is performing early manufacturing of the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), which includes structural fabrication and shop work. The ship also will be the second aircraft carrier built completely using digital drawings and procedures rather than traditional paper work packages and products.
Doris Miller’s keel is scheduled to be laid in 2026 and delivered to the Navy in 2032.
«The Doris Miller story provides so many lessons to us as Americans», said Thomas Bledsoe, great-nephew of the ship’s namesake. «The Miller family cannot express in words what this means to us, to Americans and to anyone inspired by Doris Miller’s story».
The Ford class features new software-controlled electromagnetic catapults and weapons elevators, a redesigned flight deck and island, and more than twice the electrical capacity of the preceding Nimitz-class carriers. These aircraft carriers are designed to be the centerpiece of the nation’s security strategy and support and protect the global economy through the protection of sea lanes around the world.
General Characteristics
| Builder | Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia |
| Propulsion | 2 A1B* nuclear reactors, 4 shafts |
| Length | 1,092 feet/333 m |
| Beam | 134 feet/41 m |
| Flight Deck Width | 256 feet/78 m |
| Flight Deck Square | 217,796 feet2/20,234 m2 |
| Displacement | approximately 100,000 long tons full load |
| Speed | 30+ knots/34.5+ mph/55.5+ km/h |
| Crew | 4,539 (ship, air wing and staff) |
| Armament | ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile), RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile), Mk-15 Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) |
| Aircraft | 75+ |
* – Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. serves the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program
Ships
| Ship | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Homeport |
| USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) | 11-13-2009 | 11-09-2013 | 07-22-2017 | Norfolk, Virginia |
| USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) | 08-22-2015 | 10-29-2019 | ||
| USS Enterprise (CVN-80) | ||||
| USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) | ||||
| CVN-82 |