Huntington Ingalls Industries launched the U.S. Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, future USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), on November 12.
The ship was named in honor of Paul Robert Ignatius, who served as secretary of the Navy under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967 to 1969. The launch of the ship took place on Veterans Day weekend, coinciding with the Veterans Day birthday of its namesake, Ignatius.
The launch of a ship marks the first time it enters the water. Long before the launch, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville logisticians, embedded with Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast, were already taking steps to ensure the ship would be “ready for sea.”
Logisticians processed the ship’s first incremental stock number sequence list, which resulted in more than 1,300 Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures (MILSTRIP) requisitions for government-furnished material. These outfitting requisitions for operating space items and storeroom items form the basis of the ship’s consolidated shipboard allowance list.
The launch of this ship is especially significant for the logistics community. Prior to being appointed as SECNAV, Ignatius was the Army logistics chief in May 1961 and December 1964, assistant SECNAV (Installations and Logistics)(I&L).
It was during Ignatius’ tenure as ASN (I&L) the Department of Defense reorganization order of March 6, 1966, was signed which led to the abolishment of Bureau of Supplies and Accounts (BUSANDA) and subsequent birth of NAVSUP, May 1, 1966.
Ignatius also founded the prestigious Logistics Management Institute (LMI), a nonprofit consultant group designed to seek solutions to highly-complex logistics problems, and served as LMI chairman of the board from 1987 to 1993.
Pre-Commissioning Unit Paul Ignatius is scheduled to deliver to the Navy June 2018.