Additions to the fleet
October 12th, 2009 | Military Sealift Command Science and technology Ships | Posted by Phil Ewing
Crew members stood aboard the newly commissioned destroyer Wayne E. Meyer in Philadelphia Friday, beneath one of the ship's SPY-1 radar arrays, which the ship's namesake helped develop // Christopher P. Cavas/ Staff
Our senior Scoop Deckmate Christopher P. Cavas was in Philadelphia this weekend for the commissioning of the Navy’s latest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the Wayne E. Meyer, which was looking fine all dressed up for the occasion. The Navy had hoped the ship’s namesake, who led the team that developed the Aegis system back in the 1970s, could’ve been at the commissioning himself, but retired Rear Adm. Meyer died in September just a few weeks short of the event.
Another development this weekend was Navy Secretary Ray Mabus’ announcement that Military Sealift Command’s next dry cargo and ammunition would be named for the civil rights leader Medgar Evers.
“He was committed to his fellow human beings and the dream of making America a nation for all its citizens,” Mabus said Friday.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced Friday that the ship formerly known only as T-AKE 13 would be named Medgar Evers // Navy illustration