NEWPORT NEWS, Va., (Nov. 19, 2022) — HII’s (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division hosted a keel authentication ceremony today for
Virginia-class submarine
Arkansas (SSN 800).
The ship’s sponsors are the six women of the historic group known as the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas during desegregation. NNS honored all nine members, including the three men, during Saturday’s ceremony.
The Little Rock Nine made history in 1957 with their response to the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Faced with shouting mobs, threats of violence and hostile state leaders who blocked their way, the teenagers were escorted into the school by federal troops at the direction of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“Their courageous spirit will forever inspire
Arkansas and her crew. This group forever changed our nation’s history and their submarine will help ensure their legacy continues,” NNS President Jennifer Boykin said. “The bravery and resilience of the Little Rock Nine sparked a fire of change and demonstrated the strength of blending different perspectives and backgrounds. We harness this strength in the shipyard every day. Our diversity allows us to extend beyond our own limits, to reach new heights, and build each boat even better than the one before it.
Arkansas will be proof of this power.”
During Saturday’s ceremony, NNS welders etched a historic six sets of initials of the Little Rock Nine onto metal plates, signifying the keel of SSN 800 as being “truly and fairly laid.” The metal plates will remain affixed to the submarine throughout its life.
Elizabeth Eckford, a member of the Little Rock Nine, offers remarks on behalf of the group during a keel authentication ceremony for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. (Photo by Lexi Whitehead/HII)
Welders from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division weld the initials of Little Rock Nine members onto metal plates during a keel authentication ceremony for the Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) on Saturday, November 19, 2022. The metal plates will remain affixed to the submarine throughout its life. (Photo by Lexi Whitehead/HII)
Jennifer Boykin, president of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, offers remarks during the keel authentication ceremony for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) on Saturday, November 19, 2022. (Photo by Lexi Whitehead/HII)
Members of the Little Rock Nine, Carlotta Walls Lanier, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, and Thelma Mothershed Wair, are joined by NNS President Jennifer Boykin, NNS welders, Navy leaders, and elected officials at the keel authentication ceremony for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding on Saturday, November 19, 2022. The six women of the Little Rock Nine were named sponsors of Arkansas by the Navy in 2018. All nine members were recognized by NNS during the ceremony. (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII)
From left, NNS President Jennifer Boykin looks on as members of the Little Rock Nine, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed Wair assisted by PCU Arkansas commanding officer Cmdr. Adam Kahnke, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray Karlmark and Carlotta Walls Lanier, etch their initials onto steel plates during the keel authentication ceremony for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) on Saturday, November 19, 2022. (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII)
HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division hosted a keel authentication ceremony for the Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) on Saturday, November 19, 2022. The ship’s sponsors are the six women of the historic group known as the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas during desegregation. NNS honored all nine members, including the three men, during Saturday’s ceremony. (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII)
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“(Former Navy) Secretary Ray Mabus asked us to be supporters of the ship and its crew. I signed on to be a foster grandmother,” said Elizabeth Eckford, a member of the Little Rock Nine, who spoke on behalf of the group during the ceremony. “President Eisenhower sent 1,000 paratroopers to Little Rock to disperse a mob, bring order, and they made it possible for us to enter Central High School. From that point, I’ve had very high regard for specially trained forces.”
Arkansas is the 27th
Virginia-class fast attack submarine being built under the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.
“With advances in sound silencing, acoustic sensors, and weapons delivery systems,
Arkansas will traverse the world’s oceans and seas as an apex predator. Representing our asymmetric advantage in the undersea domain, the
Arkansas will have no equal,” said Vice Adm. William Houston, commander, Naval Submarine Forces.
“It is an incredible honor for the crew to begin to establish the relationship with our namesake state of Arkansas as well as with the ship's sponsors,” said Cmdr. Adam Kahnke, commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit. “The story of the Little Rock Nine demonstrates the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. I find the relationship with the ship’s sponsors very appropriate due to the fact that perseverance is an essential attribute to success in the art of submarine warfare.”
NNS is one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines. The advanced capabilities of
Virginia-class submarines increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth.
This milestone on
Arkansas comes following the delivery of USS
Montana (SSN 794), the launch of
New Jersey (SSN 796), and continued progress on
Massachusetts (SSN 798) at NNS earlier in 2022, as the shipyard continues to invest in its workforce and facilities to make steady progress on delivering these important assets to the Navy.
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