Aircraft carrier John C. Stennis to be commissioned

US Navy Press Releases

. Aircraft carrier John C. Stennis to be commissioned

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Navy's newest aircraft carrier, John C. Stennis (CVN 74), will be commissioned on Dec. 9., at Naval Base Norfolk.

The seventh Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to join the U.S. Navy's fleet and operate "Forward...From the Sea," is named in honor of the late Mississippi Senator John C. Stennis. He served during Presidential administrations from Harry Truman in 1947 through Ronald Reagan in 1988.

During his 41-year Senate career, Stennis served as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1969 to 1980. Through his consistent support for the Navy, he earned the reputation as "The father of America's modern Navy." Stennis retired from the Senate in 1988 and passed away on April 23, 1995.

John C. Stennis has a crew of more than 2,400 Sailors and is commanded by CAPT Robert C. Klosterman. (This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA1193)