What:

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) will begin the flooding of Dry Dock 12,

where the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) has been under construction

since November 2009. Susan Ford Bales, daughter of the ship’s namesake and its

sponsor, will tour the dry dock with media prior to initiating the flooding.

When:

Friday, Oct. 11

10 a.m. Eastern

Media to arrive no later than 9:40 a.m.

Where:

Media parking will be reserved in the shipyard’s North Yard parking lot. Media

must arrive no later than 9:40 a.m. Transportation to Dry Dock 12 will be

provided.

Directions:

— From I-64 (either westbound or eastbound)

— Take Exit #264 to Interstate I-664 toward Downtown Newport News/ Suffolk

— Take Exit #5 (35^th Street) to Warwick Boulevard

— Travel approximately 3 miles on Warwick Boulevard

— Immediately after 69^th Street, make a U-turn onto Huntington Avenue

— Merge into the right lane and continue to bear right on to Shipyard Drive

— Continue downhill and stay straight, then follow signs to media parking

RSVP:

Please RSVP by noon on Thursday, Oct. 10. Media must RSVP in advance to

gain access to the shipyard. You must present a photo ID and be a U.S. citizen to

be admitted into the shipyard.

Attire:

Because this event will take place in an industrial environment, long pants and sturdy,

flat, closed-toed shoes are required (ex: hiking boots).