 To je vse je glasba vse, da smo tukaj zelo v zelo, začeli za US navite. Vse je vse je vse izgleda izgleda nekaj, in vse je vse je vse, vse je vse je vse, vse je vse je vse, in je je vse je začeli za vse, vse je vse je vse, vse je vse je vse, vse je vse je vse, v vsem zvomjegu in v Uniji stvari, vse površtih prema, Maritajnj vse. Vse je v咗em zvomjegu, ko se prv pomeče v 20. sembiru, when think-and-the-airing, design of engineers, traveled to Philadelphia to support the early development of the US-nary submarine fleet. Over the past 100 years, this relationship has grown to the point where the US has now become think-and-the-airings and most valued business partner. As an average here, US customers, both private and the government, account for over one third of our revenues. This strong relationship is grounded on the recognition of think-and-the-airing's ability to apply technical and process innovation to building ships efficiently and effectively. We are immensely grateful for the trust that the United States continues to put in think-and-the-airing. There are three ways in which think-and-the-airing responds to the trust placed in us, investing, improving and innovating. First, we have invested hundreds of millions to establish think-and-the-airing group and to grow the capabilities of the US shipyards. Today, there are seven LCS ships here, and I think it's a record, a world record. At the Fikantieri Marinette Marine, an incredible increase from just four years ago. We strive daily to improve the manufacturing processes. We know how of our most important asset, other people. Fikantieri has shared the significant technology. She is building now and the resources to supplement our US-based operations and the talent. We have added over 900 people to our workforce, and the studies prove this means a total of almost 5,000 new jobs in the area. We remain committed to continue investing where outcomes can be profitable and beneficial for all parties. Third, we innovate continuously in technologies, solutions and tools to modernize shipbuilding. We design ships that are ever more green and connected while providing the modularity and flexibility to adapt to changing missions. The prime example is the recent award for the removal of the Italian Navy Fleet to control the unsafe and dangerous migrator fruze in the Mediterranean Sea, while being ready to deal with the other regional security threats. In the future, discussions are taking place regarding the shape of the LSES program, the fast frigate, and America's approach to the international naval markets with an affordable and combat-capable vessel. Our partners are ready to take this program further in the way that best meets the needs of the nation for today and tomorrow. In fact, we are proud to not just build the ships, but to help in building America for the rest of the 21st century. We look forward to continuing to do this together with our partners, our workers, our customers, and the communities that support us. As a former the G-4 submarine in Philadelphia to this LSES little rock in Marinette, a strong bond has been forked between Efficatieri and America. We remain committed to perpetuate this bond into the future and make it ever stronger. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Bono. It's my pleasure to introduce our next speaker, who has been with us programs in 2006. I really don't have to say much about him. You already know him. Joe North, Vice President, Lockheed Martin, Latorra Combat Ship Systems. Good morning, everybody, and thank you for bearing with the weather, and we continue to do our just-in-time with clear weather and sun. If, Mr. Secretary, you can admit this is true, it seems to happen a little less than an hour before the event, so we've done it once again. And I think the entire platform is taking credit this time, so. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, Mrs. Bono. Senator Baldwin, Secretary Mabus, and everyone who has joined us today. I'm truly honored to be part of the exciting occasion. The christening and launch of the Little Rock will give this ship her identity as she moves another step towards serving the U.S. Navy and our nation. In the past decade, we have seen countless accomplishments in this program. The ship displayed behind me is another milestone that is a tribute to the strong industry team and to our suppliers. And on behalf of Lockheed Martin and all the men and women, Finkateri Marine and all their men and women, Gibson Cox, their men and women, and the strong industry partners that are out there today and those watching, hopefully, on our live stream, I'd like a round of applause to all the folks that have done a lot of hard work to put this ship together and get it together. We absolutely would not be here without the dedication of those folks in that team. USS Freedom completed successful deployment to Southeast Asia, where she participated in multinational exercises, completed patrols, and offered humanitarian aid. Fort Worth is currently in the midst of a 16-month deployment and has done exceptionally well. Each ship that comes out of here is improved over the one before it, a testament to what the team can do, and we're committed to. Like Freedom, Fort Worth has participated also in several multinational exercises while providing the forward presence to America's allies that the Navy deems so very important. As the team that builds and delivers these ships to continue to the fleet, we know that every one of our follow-on ships will continue to serve the Navy with the same distinction for many years to come. Currently, there are seven, seven Freedom-class ships being built in various stages in this shipyard today. Finkitary Marinette Marine stands by their commitment and is doing a great job with the investment that you see, with the employment which has doubled since the beginning of this program, and stays committed to what we need to bring these ships to the fleet on the schedule that they need them. We were also awarded two additional ships, LCS 21 and 23, this past March, and there's an option for another hull, LCS 25 and 2016, exhibiting the confidence the U.S. Navy has in this team. But today we're here to celebrate the future USS Little Rock. Little Rock has roots in Navy history, and this littoral combat ship will be the second Navy ship to pay tribute to that very proud city. The first Little Rock, a Cleveland-class light cruiser when she was built, was later converted to a guided missile cruiser, again showing the early start of the adaptability, flexibility, and modularity that we have. Proudly serving her was our very own Navy Secretary, Mavis, who was a surface warfare officer on the original USS Little Rock. Mr. Secretary, we thank you for your service, as well as for your very strong and vocal support for this program. The future USS Little Rock will be unlike the original namesake in terms of missions and capabilities. She will reach speeds of up to 45 knots. She will use interchangeable mission modules that empower her to face a variety of high priority missions, from anti-surface warfare to anti-submarine warfare to mind countermeasures. And she will also enter waters other Navy combat ships are unable to go. With her shallow draft, just 13 feet, the Little Rock is ideally suited to navigate the reefs and shallows of the Asia Pacific, as well demonstrated by the USS Fort Worth on her current deployment. Our sailors will strengthen the force of LCS as they take her into harm's way to defeat the threats in the Latorals. We are proud to support the current and future crews of Little Rock who will defend our maritime interests at home and abroad. In the end, again, expressing my appreciation to you, Mrs. Bonner, and to all those who have brought us to this point with your very hard work. Effort, dedication to the program is always there. Thank you to the entire industry team and thank you to the U.S. Navy for your trust in this team's ability to bring Little Rock to the fleet. Thank you. Our next speaker is our boss, Rear Abel Brian Antonio. Admiral Antonio has been a driving force behind this program's acquisition since the beginning. His guidance and direction have been timely to us and to all of the teammates as we went forward. We're lucky to have a strong leader like him, somebody who's personally involved in the program, and I gotta tell you, it's an Abel that really cares about what he does. Please welcome Admiral Brian Antonio. Mrs. Bonner, Secretary Mavis, Senator Baldwin, Congressman Ribble, Mayor Stodola, Vice Admiral Malloy, Secretary Winter, Mrs. Linda Winter, New President of the Society of Sponsors, Distinguished guests and visitors, good morning. As Dan mentioned, it's a great Navy day, and of course judging by the turnout and the way the weather is turning, it's getting better all the time. You'll be hearing from a number of esteemed speakers this morning, which is, I take as a sign of the ever-growing support of these fine ships at all levels of government and of course of the positive momentum that we continue to achieve in the LCS program. I talk a lot about the positive momentum, but what does it really mean? Being a career naval officer, I often think in terms of a standard Navy tour of duty or about three years. So let's talk about that. In 2018, or within one tour of duty, we'll have not just one LCS operating out of Singapore, but four. Each of the mission packages that Joe North just mentioned, the Mine Countermeasure Mission Package, the anti-submarine warfare mission package and the surface warfare mission package will have all achieved their initial operating capability. And by 2018, we will have completed the full ship shop trials for both variants of LCS. Fourth, the last three ships of the current LCS design, hulls number 30 through 32, will be funded, of course with the help of Senator Baldwin and Congressman Ribble, and we will have a request for proposal to industry for the new frigates. And finally, this may come as a shock to some observers. By 2018, LCS will constitute the second largest surface ship class of ships in the Navy, only behind the DDG 51 class. Now that's what I call momentum. As head of the Navy organization responsible for design, development, procurement, testing, and delivery of the littoral combat ships and their mission packages, I'm in a unique position to see what works and what doesn't. Every challenge presents an opportunity, something I tell my folks every day. And make no mistake, the team that is bringing LCS to the fleet excels at turning challenges into opportunities. From our industry partners at Lockheed Martin to Fink and Terry's Marinette Marine Shipbuilders and their suppliers to the dedicated men and women, many of whom are with us this morning, who bring this ship nearer to completion every day. From the LCS program manager, Captain Tom Anderson and his superb staff to the supervisor of shipbuilding in Bath Main, Captain Mike Taylor, the program manager's representative, Commander Nate Schneider and the rest of the outstanding supervisor of shipbuilding team here in Marinette. And let's not forget Little Rock's impressive pre-commissioning crews, led by Commander Kevin Ralston and Commander Paul Burkhardt. I know what a special day this is for you and I have no doubt that as Mrs. Bonner Christians this warship, you will take her gracious spirit to heart as you proudly serve our Navy, your nation and one another. In closing, may God bless Little Rock, her crew, our Navy and our nation. Go Navy, go LCS. Thank you, Admiral. Our next speaker is the Honorable Mark Stodon, mayor of a namesake city, Little Rock. It's my opportunity to introduce someone that is infectious in his belief in this ship. He's excited about this and the 200,000 patriots in Little Rock are reaching out to you today. This re-establishes your naval history. Mayor. Thank you very much. Secretary Mabus, Mrs. Bonner, Vice Admiral Malloy, Reverend Antonio, Senator Baldwin, Representative Ribble and distinguished guests, I am so honored to be here on behalf of those 200,000 people in the city of Little Rock as we receive the honor of having this ship named after our great city. There have been many important ships throughout American history and I am proud that we can once again include the USS Little Rock among them the most advanced, sophisticated and agile combat ship in the Navy. I'm very proud that my senior senator from Arkansas, Senator John Bosman, is with us today. Thank you, sir, for being with us. You know, Little Rock is the capital city of Arkansas and it's located on the Arkansas River, one of our nation's great inland waterways. Little Rock was named for a stone outcropping on the banks of the Arkansas River that was used by travelers in Denmark before we became a country. In 1722 the French explorer Bernard de la Harp named the area La Petite Roche French for the Little Rock. And about four years ago in October of 2011 I had the distinct honor to stand on the banks of the Arkansas River at the Little Rock with Secretary Mavis when he announced the naming USS Little Rock. In the mass stepping ceremony yesterday I placed a Little Rock in the canister so that wherever the USS Little Rock travels around the world there will always be a piece of the Rock aboard. As you know and has been mentioned Secretary Mavis served as an officer aboard the original USS Little Rock and I know that he has a lifetime of memories from his time aboard that ship. And I am so honored that Secretary Mavis in the US Navy saw fit to name another ship after our city. And so as the first USS Little Rock had an honorable and distinguished career protecting our country and had a secretary of the Navy as a future officer I can only hope that this USS Little Rock and its officers and sailors will have such a distinguished honorable career protecting our country and protecting freedom around the world. Thank you. Our next speaker is Vice Admiral Joseph Maloi Deputy CNO for integration capabilities and resources. This means that he controls all the money in the Pentagon certainly on ship building money and we are very happy to have him with us. Sir, this wouldn't be possible without you. Well Dan, thank you very much for that kind introduction. Secretary Mavis Secretary Winter, other distinguished guests here and the group is so large but I especially want to reach out to the tremendous number of shipyard workers and families. This is a family day and I'll talk more about my experience of a new construction and why this means so much to me. But on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Greenert, I bring you greetings from the Pentagon and I'm very lucky to get away. Unlike our secretary who was able to travel from the Pentagon and see many people I don't get out very much without his permission because he said was, for six years I've served this man as the programmer for the Navy as a budget officer for the Department Navy and now the head of resources. It's my job to find a good deal and that's what I do around here and I will tell you having visited the shipyard and visited the shipyard workers and this whole leadership team I have found a good deal for the Navy, Mr. Secretary and we need to keep buying these ships. Thank you all very much. It's a beautiful day in Wisconsin. My wife is from Green Bay and my brother-in-law and she talked about being up here and about the lovely weather in the least visited yard and I'll come back in the wintertime but as I was driving up Route 43 on Thursday and coming up and I saw Lambeau Field in the distance so I contacted my brother-in-law and I said, hey, I can see it. It's right here like you talked about. He said, did you stop and genuflect? I said, Steve, you know I'm Catholic and you know I genuflect. It's a football stadium. He said, no, no, Joe, it's a shrine. So now I really do understand Midwest football and clearly what we need to get around here is the touchdown Jesus in downtown Green Bay and you have it all. So, it's a wonderful gage to be here in the Marionette Monomony area and like I said, it brings back family connections as well as an Navy connection to me in terms of shipyards. I love shipyards and this is a magnificent place. It's a fantastic investment by the companies that came here but it's a real testimony to the workforce and I want to tell the family members of the workers here and the subcontractors you should be so proud of what your mothers and fathers do on this yard day in and day out. The quality of the work, the focus on delivery, overcoming whatever the weather throws at you but building a fantastic set of ships and touring yesterday I covered eight hours and five miles of walking with the Gus leader of the president company here and it's magnificent wherever we went is high tech but big hearts and that's what really makes shipbuilding work. The big hearts of the people, the brains and the engagement, the techniques and just the love of shipbuilding which is really, really resonant in this area and it can tell why great lake shipbuilding has been a part of the Navy for a long, long time and it will be a part of the Navy for a long, long time. The precision and care put in design of the construction of the ship. The precision and care and time put in design of the construction of the ship show the commitment of Fincaire, Marient Marine, Lockheed Martin and all the people who touched the ship and brought Little Rock to this point. So you know, I would like to thank you all and all the people here. One day I can clearly say and see is that this shipyard workers are like family but also family legacies. I met a large number of people that are their second and third generations of working here and that's important and that's what I've seen in other shipyards but it really resonates here. And many ways the ship and the crew that we just saw right up here is like a family. The strength of the ship is not just the reliance on the steel in the hull and can be counted on to support their commanding officer. Today's event is one of the reasons why I love the Navy and its extended family. I think many of you do too. It is the ebb and flow of our tradition that is bound up in our busy days. It gives us something to hold on to to cherish. To feel we are part of bigger than something than ourselves and we are making America a little bit better every day. Earlier events in the life of this ship such as the contract between NavSea and Adron Antonio and the companies in the initial fabrication of the hull found the Navy and the shipbuilder together on the path leading to the day. The keel laying a few years ago introduced the sponsor who will love the ship as much or more than the builder and her crew into this special dance of life that only the Navy, the side of our ship sponsors and our wonderful shipbuilders know and love. The next major step in this construction process is today's event which will now cement forever the sponsor, the builder, the Navy, the crew and the spirit of the namesake city into a special bond that will last for decades. I'm a nuclear trained officer and that's my background. We believe in procedures, we understand the technology we love and work with but as a result we also believe in instructions and how things are done properly. And there's instruction, obviously in the Navy there would be one that talks about today's events. It's second of instruction, 5031.1C. It is on christening and commissioning and it specifically states that this ceremony marks the traditional transition of the ship from new construction phase to its more comprehensive tests and trials phase moving from a mere hull number to a ship with a name and a spirit. To me the christening is the beginning of a ship's life. I know and understand the ceremony. I was the new construction engineer officer on the USS Miami back in 1990 when it was christened at the electric boat. I remember the deep proud feelings I felt in the profound effect the ceremony had on our crew, our family the audience and the sponsor as we slid into the river. The memory is as clear to me as it was yesterday. That is how significant this ceremony is. It will induce pride and ownership of this crew in this great ship. It will leave a lasting impression on their lives, the Navy and everyone in this audience. This will be the beginning of the Little Rock way on how to run and love and take care of their ship and they will also know that we are responsible with them every day. We need Little Rock and we need her way out in the fleet. Our LCS in the fleet have been very successful as a couple of you have pointed out here and have wet the whistles of our combatant commanders for more hulls. The flexibility of this class has been clearly shown by Fort Worth on her full range of missions. Everything from high end war games and simulations operating with our allies in Korea operating with our fleet off of Japan. But especially in operations off Indonesia and Asia. If the tragedy of the Air Asia crash there was the USS Picney a two-band art destroyer there a wonderful ship, an amazing capability ballistic missile defense integrated missile defense. It brought a lot to the bear. But what was the ship, the 7 fleet and Pacific Command really want? They wanted the Fort Worth. Why? Because they flew out a mobile diving and salvage unit on short notice divers and then to operate in shallow water near Indonesia islands made a tremendous difference such that this ship at one-third the cost was able to provide twice the mission of what was needed at that point and that's what we need in the toolkit of our Navy. We have 280 ships, we want to be over 300 we need flexible tools just like in the buildings around you see here you have to have the right tool for the right mission to build the right part of the ship. Well, every ship has this mission in the fleet and this ship has its mission in the future and we need to get it out there. I'll leave you with two quotes that I learned 40 years ago during my plebe here at the Naval Academy and the first talks about the importance of navies to countries is recognized by a great statesman and it's really understood by countries like Italy Great Britain and the United States that have a naval tradition that is bound up and how important it is to who we are. It follows then as certain as the night succeeds the day that without a decisive naval force we could do nothing definitive and with it everything honorable and glorious. George Washington, President of the United States. I also point out was also a four-star general in the Army but he still loved the Navy. The second is a charge to the crew and it comes from Commodore Stephen Decatur our victor in many of our 19th century naval battles in the war of 1812 in our Barbary Wars and this goes right to the commanding officers and the crew on the ship as I look at them. Personal courage, obedience to order and endurance under stress are the qualifiers of a good semen. Thank you. Thank you all very much. May God bless Little Rock, her captains, her crew, her sponsor, her builders, our Navy and our nation. Thank you very much. Thank you, Admiral. Our next speaker is the Honorable Reed Ribble representing Wisconsin's 8th District Congressman Ribble serves on the committee in foreign affairs, transportation infrastructure committee. He's worked diligently in the house representing LCS. We're very privileged to have a congressman like Congressman Reed Ribble. And, everybody, in Senator Bozeman it's a real treat to have you here in Wisconsin with us today. For those you don't know, Senator Bozeman I share a meal every Tuesday night and it's an honor to have you with us this morning. It's good to see you. I think... I have been asked dozens of times why I support and so strongly support the LCS program. And I think it's easy for us as Americans when we think of our Navy to think of things like what happened at Pearl Harbor and then the American response at Midway. It's easy to think about the bombardment at Iwo Jima and Normandy in the landing there. It's easy for us to think of great military battles and victories. But all those things as important as they are not the reason that I support the LCS. I think they are important. And to the shipbuilders that are here, the men and women who actually craft this fine vessel you've built a vessel that can destroy and defend destroy and defend. But you've also built a vessel that can rescue and save. And when I think of the purpose of the Navy, I think it goes beyond Midway. I think of Haiti and a U.S. naval vessel off the coast of Haiti after an earthquake. I think of the citizens of the Philippines after a typhoon when the Navy comes in to rescue. I think of the purpose, the peaceful purpose of the United States Navy off the coast of Southeast Asia after a tsunami killed 250,000 people. I'll never forget seeing the photo. I think it was in Time Magazine one of our young Marines carrying a two-year-old injured child after the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. And walking next to this Marine to go aboard a Navy vessel to get medical aid was the young boy's father wearing an Osama Bin Laden t-shirt. Would have been very easy for this Marine to focus on the father in the t-shirt, but chose instead to focus on the child. This is the heart and compassion of America. And when I think of the LCS, I think of its close-in shallow water capability that can provide that very peaceful purpose around the globe. It is so important for us, and so important for America that the world see not only our ability to defend ourselves, but our ability to provide a peaceful purpose around the globe. They see in you to the men and women standing in back who built the Little Rock. They see in you the great heart, the compassion, the charity and generosity of every single American that reaches out for peace around the globe. And this ship will represent that around the globe as well as defend and possibly be called to destroy. And that is such a higher calling and such a higher mission in Admiral and Secretary Mavis. It is this peaceful purpose that drives me to defend this program and to defend the workers who build it. Because that is the very best of America. That is at the core who we are. And I will continue to defend that program in the Congress of the United States because of it. Thank you very much. Thank you, Congressman. Our next speaker is the Honorable Tammy Baldwin, United States Senator for Wisconsin. She's a member of the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Committee in Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. She's been here. This is her third trip this year. She's been a strong and passionate supporter of this program. If you want to get a sense of her commitment, engage her in conversation. Our Senator, Senator Tammy Baldwin. Good morning everybody. Good morning. And for those of you who are traveling from out of state, whether across the river in Michigan or across the nation from Alabama, from Arkansas, from Washington, D.C., welcome to Wisconsin. It is so great to be back here at Marinette Marine, and I couldn't be more honored than to join Congressman Ribble, Secretary Mabus, and everyone here today for this christening and launch ceremony. I have the great pleasure of serving a state where we have a long and very proud tradition of making things. That's what we do. Our Made in Wisconsin manufacturing economy has sustained our prosperity for generations. In the case of Wisconsin's shipbuilding industry, our workers have also helped sustain America's security for generations. Boasting a successful history of building ships for our nation's defense. The Latoral Combat Ship plays a critical role in continuing that tradition, providing the Navy with enhanced capabilities and flexibility at an affordable price. We gather at a critical time for the Navy and for America's national security strategy. The United States faces a dynamic and increasingly challenging threat environment while budgets here at home continued to be constrained. And that means it's vital that the Navy buy ships that correctly balance war fighting capability and cost. When you look at the numerous recent successes of the freedom variant ships while deployed it is clear that the Latoral Combat Ship meets those criteria. So I am extremely proud to represent the talented Wisconsin workers who build the LCS and support the dedicated men and women of the United States military. The LCS is not only essential to America's national security it's also a critical part of Wisconsin's economy. During my time in the United States Senate I've worked across party lines and fought for this important defense program because it employs thousands of hardworking Wisconsinites and positively impacts not only the local community but has a ripple effect across our entire state supporting Wisconsin jobs at nearly 100 Wisconsin businesses that are supplying parts to build the LCS here in Marinette. The LCS also has a tremendous economic impact down south, particularly in Alabama making it especially fitting that Mrs. Janay Bonner has been chosen by Secretary Mavis as the sponsor of LCS 9 the Future Little Rock. Throughout his tenure in the House Janay's husband and my former colleague Congressman Bonner was a strong champion for the LCS program and it's great to see that long time support represented so well by the Bonner family here today. I look forward to continuing my work and support of the LCS program because it strengthens both our national security and our made in America economy. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. I'm privileged to introduce our principal speaker, former surface warfare officer. Don't get to do that too often, but he's also our 75th secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps. Mr. Secretary, during your tour you have been a ship building secretary. You've redefined Navy ship building in the fleet. Your enthusiasm for this program is tangible and each time you visit the shipyard it fills this shipyard with a sense of energy, purpose and pride. Thank you for coming. Since your first visit back in 2011 the facility here at MMC has changed dramatically. It's a world class ship building operation with Fink, Ontario and Marinette Marine working together and it's incredible workforce you see in front of you today. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me to test secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mavis. This is a happy day and I want this to be a happy occasion. But I do want to pause just for a moment as we did at the beginning of the ceremony. We lost four Marines and one sailor in Chattanooga, Tennessee and it underscores just how dangerous the job we ask our sailors and Marines, our soldiers, our airmen, our coast guards to do regardless of where they are, regardless of whether they're for a deployed or not. We expect them to go in harm's way. It is always a risk to call out people because you're going to leave out somebody. But I'm going to make an exception to that political rule not to do it. There are some people that I want to give recognition to and there are many, many distinguished visitors that I won't get to. But starting on the platform Mr. Mayor, thank you for being here. Wrong way. Dr. Bono, thank you. To my colleague Joe Malloy Joe pointed out that we've been together for six years. Joe didn't have a single gray hair when I met him. Joe's the money guy and has been since the word go. And he does such a outstanding job that we keep promoting him. But every time I issue guidance before the budget is developed and there are certain areas that I say we're not touching these areas. If we've got to find money in what we always do don't go here. But one of Joe's jobs is to come up with alternatives. We call them in the military koas courses of action. And every time one of those koas is we can build fewer ships. So the last time we met Joe had a long presentation and he started in I said you know before you even start we're not taking any ships. So Joe takes a big slug of my locks says I and finds the money. Bravo Zulu Joe. Congressman thank you for that eloquent explanation of our Navy and our nation. I've never heard it stated better. Rear Admiral thank you for spearheading this program. Senator I met Senator Bowen just a few weeks after she was sworn in as a brand new senator and we talked about LCS and she has been a true champion as has the Congressman. So thank you for representing your constituents both of you and America so well. There's another Senator Senator Bowesman from Arkansas. Thank you so much for being here today. There are two former governors and actually there are three former governors here since I'm one of those too. But Jim Dole Jennifer Grando Wisconsin and Michigan and I've seen governors DNA to worry about jobs to make sure that they're the people that they represent have good jobs, high paying jobs are fully employed highly skilled and they did that magnificently while they were going. What is unusual though is they've been out of office for several years. They are still working for the people of Wisconsin people of Michigan on this program. I have seen them more as former governors than I saw them as sitting governors. And so thank you. Y'all give these two governors to my predecessor Don Winter who is here today in a staff role my support role to his wife the new president of society of sponsors. There is a certain justice in that and I know that I will find out when my wife Christmas the Triple E to the first person I met in the Pentagon is the nominee for this job Robert Rangel who helped me understand the job and helped me understand how that interesting place works and finally to my fellow sailors from the first on Little Rock particularly Master Chief Musaba the very first person I met on Little Rock when he was a young yeoman and I was the most dangerous thing in the U.S. Navy a junior officer coming on board my first ship and it's been great to reconnect with the Master Chief the importance of the Navy is enshrined in our Constitution Article 1 says that Congress has the ability to raise an army but it has the responsibility to maintain a Navy and in that not so subtle distinction is the importance of our Navy and our Marine Corps what we uniquely give this nation is presence being where it counts when it counts being in the right place not just at the right time but all the time that presence reassures allies it deters potential fobs it responds as the congressman said to natural disasters it can do everything from high in warfare to hybrid warfare to the low intensity conflicts that we are increasingly in today but it can also help train other navies it can respond to natural disasters it can give humanitarian relief disaster assistance we get that presence I'm gonna talk a little bit about Navy 101 here and then I'll get to Little Rock we get that presence through four other things that start with P people, platforms power and partnerships first is people and forgive me master chief but we have the best force we've ever had today and it's up to us to keep it that way but we have put them under a lot of stress we've expected a lot from them our operational tempo is incredibly high we're away from families more and more and so we've we're changing the way we manage the force we're doing things like promote based on merit versus on your group we don't have enough women in the navy and we don't keep enough women in the navy so three weeks ago acting under authority given me I tripled paid maternity leave for people in the navy and the women from six weeks to 18 weeks we're making sure that dual military families to the extent we can are co-located and that they don't deploy at the same time I've extended childcare hours, two hours earlier in the morning two hours later at night and every major base has at least one 24-hour childcare facility we lose too many women our force ought to reflect the country that we defend and so we're trying to make this easier we're trying to keep people from making a choice in congress I'm gonna ask you for some help I can do the maternity leave but for partners it's only ten days leave and congress has to change that fathers and partners ought to be a part of that child's life also and for adoptive parents they only get 21 days and if it's a dual military family only one can take that we ought to do better than that platforms we're here today because of that quantity has a quality all it's on and in 2001 on 9-11 the US Navy had 316 ships by 2008 we were down to 278 ships and we were involved in two land wars there was a reason for this but in the five years prior to 2009 we only put 27 ships under contract that wasn't enough to keep these shipyards open and it wasn't enough to keep our fleet from declining in my first five years we put 70 ships under contract and we did it with a smaller top line and we did it because of places like Marinette where the cost of the LCS has been cut by more than half thanks to the work we've done together thanks to the great ship builders thanks to the management team from Benkentieri and Lockheed and I'll use one other platform as a quick example the Navy last summer signed the biggest contract in our history for 10 Virginia class submarines over a $17 billion contract we're getting 10 we paid for 9 it's like having one of those punch cards buy 10 submarines buy 9 submarines get your 10th one free we'll be back at 304 ships by the end of this decade and we will stay there because if you miss a year in shipbuilding you never make it up ever we're living with the fleet size today because of decisions made 20 years ago the fleet that we have 15 to 20 years now depends on the decisions we make today third power energy all you have to do is look at what Russia is doing to the Ukraine what Russia did to Crimea what Russia is doing to Europe to see how fuel and energy can be used as a weapon we cannot allow that to be used as a weapon against us so we are moving toward alternative sources of fuel by the end of this year half of our fuel half of our energy a gigawatts worth on our basis will come from alternative sources that's 5 years ahead of schedule and by 2020 half of all our operational energy at sea for ships like Little Rock will come from alternative sources so that fuel cannot be used against us as a weapon and finally partnerships we have three crucial types of partnerships one is with shipbuilders in industry and this partnership has allowed us to build Little Rock it's allowed us to build the amazing navy that we have today and the fleet that is coming and I cannot say enough as Joe Malloy pointed out about the shipbuilders here at Marinette about the ones that also about the ones around the country building the various naval ships and about those that support them the second partnership is with our international partners I have now been to 140 separate countries and territories as secretary and we are doing something with every one of these I go primarily to see sailors and marines where they are forward deployed instead of waiting back at the Pentagon just on the off chance they'll stop by and see me but the other thing is to engage with these international partners and finally is our partnership with the American people we're America's away team when we're doing our job we're usually a long, long way from home just like this it's names like Little Rock it's sponsors like Jeanette Bonner that connect the American people to their navy to their marine corps to the people the people protected to the people doing the protect now the Little Rock you've heard the history of Little Rock built in 45 finished two months before in the World War II decommissioned in 49 then brought back in the service at the beginning of the Cold War reconfigured the Afghans were taken off the Dach House was taken off and nuclear capable Talos missiles were installed they also cut out a chunk of the Amid ships put this huge antenna up it did not give the Little Rock a beautiful profile but it made her a very powerful ship she was involved in a whole lot of things flagship of the Sixth Fleet went to the aid when the USS Liberty was strafed accidentally by the Israelis in the 67 war was the command ship for that for us in the 67 Arab Israeli conflict off the coast of Santo Domingo to reassure and today COG-4 CG-92 the first Little Rock lies in anchor in the harbor in Buffalo, New York I'm leaving here to go to Buffalo and we are as you've heard live streaming this primarily to Little Rock to All Stone but also to Buffalo for those sailors that sailed home first USS Little Rock Little Rock has had some amazing people who served on James E. Williams the most decorated and listed sailor in U.S. Navy history who served on Little Rock Medal of Honor recipient Navy Cross Silver Star Carl Mundy future command on the Marine Corps served aboard Little Rock Captain Frank Caldwell United States Marine Corps Navy Cross recipient of the Uojima served aboard Little Rock in a very scruffy terrible beard Lieutenant J.G. šod up in 1970 and joined the crew of the USS Little Rock Whatever success I've had in life I owe so much of it to what I learned on that ship and from people like Master Chief, Mutzaba we are extremely fortunate to have as the sponsor of Little Rock I mean, I've got the coolest job in the world I get to name Navy ships and naming the second USS Little Rock because I served on the first one is an absolute coincidence I can assure you that but I also get to name sponsors and I have to tell you it is no accident that the sponsor of a freedom class variant built in Marinette is a native of Mobile where we build the other variant this is two variants but one program J.E. Bonner J.N. Bonner ties those two great communities two great shipbuilders together this LCS program I think it's fair to say got off to a bumpy start but it's been said before once we got the ships in the water and you see what they do the Fort Worth, the freedom the independence that reimpact last year those questions have begun to subside J.N. Bonner sponsor of the Little Rock native of Mobile graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis lived in D.C. for 12 years and then returned home and it's been a force in her community regardless of whether that was Washington or Mobile too many civic responsibilities to mention president of the junior league and on the board of Episcopal School there on the board of United Way and on and on her husband Joe it's fair to say that the odds of LCS surviving would not have been as great without Joe Bonner and he's not here today because he's taking their younger son or their younger child Robbins on a college visit today he's a senior in high school and I know how important that is the only thing Joe you're taking him to the Air Force Academy today really? we've got a school right down the road so I know people they bring him to Annapolis next Jene Bonner a civic leader a wonderful sponsor will infuse the new USS Little Rock with her spirit her determination her patience so from the Navy Super Force always courageous from the Marines Super Fidelis always faithful thank you Mr. Secretary I was going to introduce Mrs. Bonner but I think the Secretary did a great job of that what do you think our sponsors thank you to everyone for the opportunity to be here this is a beautiful day and exciting day and I just want to comment that when the USS Little Rock deploys she and her crew will become the newest member of a fleet that the world looks to and depends on for the defense of liberty and aspirations of hope and freedom throughout the centuries the brave men and women who have been on station in the ultimate sacrifice is a testament to their love of something bigger than one's self but before the crew takes command of this wonderful new instrument for peace I would be remiss as the ship's sponsor in not thanking all of the hard working dedicated men and women who have brought this beautiful ship to life the craftsmen and masters of your trade from think and tearing Lockheed Martin and so many other companies both large and small who have played an integral role in helping to build one of the great new ships that will sail the seas as you all know as you all know better than anyone there are so many people who work long days and late nights often behind the scenes and out of the spotlight and the success of your mission will enable the sailors of the USS Little Rock to successfully perform their mission thank you for what you have done to deliver the USS Little Rock into the hands of a grateful nation may God bless you all as you continue your talented and dedicated work and may God always watch over the crew of the USS Little Rock and every mission she undertakes thank you but before he do I would like the chaplain to come up and give us a benediction please stand and join me in prayer gracious and everlasting God we gather today to partake in one of our navy's oldest traditions christening the USS Little Rock and invoking your presence and blessing upon it we rejoice in this magnificent achievement the ingenuity and craft you have instilled in every person that followed in your image to create all who have been faithful in service from concept to the presence of this ship before us rest with great satisfaction today this mighty ship will brave the forces of the high seas the powerful winds and often maneuvering among treacherous waters protected the sailors serving on board will brave the forces that continuously fight against our nation and mission protect them grant the USS Little Rock that shall serve on board in unwavering resiliency to remain victorious through challenging deployments and special missions in devoted service to our freedom may this ship always reflect the standard of excellence that we see in the namesake of Little Rock may the spirit we see in the city of Little Rock likewise be properly represented as a ship that stands proud above surrounding waters we offer this ship to your care asking your hands to uphold the majesty for divine blessings to abound on the journey this ship and cruise shall venture to in the near and distant future we ask and pray this in your holy name amen so at this point please be seated we're going to now begin the christening ceremony so Jana, Joe would you please escort Mrs. Bonner and Secretary Mabus to the platform please while we're waiting for the people to walk over there I'd like one opportunity to have every single worker that works on this ship please raise your hand to show everybody out there who you are at this time I'd like the platform guests to move forward to the viewing area launch team, please take your places audience members are now invited to move forward into the designated areas Mrs. Bonner are you ready to christen and launch this great vessel what a great launch ladies and gentlemen this concludes our ceremony please view the ship and then exit the yard