The U.S. Navy’s newest destroyer has landed in Whittier, Alaska, marking the first time such a vessel has visited the city in 80 years.
The USS Ted Stevens DDG 128 is the US Navy’s newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. It is named after former Republican Alaska senator and World War II veteran Ted Stevens, who died in 2010. Stevens received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his flying missions, including transport over “The Hump” in the China-Burma-India theater.
“Equipped with cutting-edge systems and capabilities, USS Ted Stevens is ready to answer our Nation’s call to counter aggression and safeguard our interests by providing a powerful advantage at sea,” said Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao in a statement.
“As we welcome another formidable Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to America’s Fleet, this warship will carry forward the ideals that its namesake spent his entire life defending from the cockpit to the Senate floor.”
The Navy announced that the ship would be commissioned in August, saying it would use technology like AN/SPY-6V1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system to detect and neutralize hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, and ballistic threats to benefit U.S. maritime security in the Arctic region.
“The city of Whittier has really stepped up to be chosen by the Navy,” USS Ted Stevens Commissioning Committee vice president Chuck Kopp told local outlet KTUU. “They’ve really rolled out the red carpet.”
‘Very Significant’ for a World War II Town
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division built the ship and delivered it to the U.S. Navy in Dec. 2025, according to defense publication Defense Blog.
The destroyer will be officially commissioned on Saturday, Oct. 3. This past Monday, it moored itself in Whittier’s Princess Cruises port dock, where the city celebrated with food, lawn games and rock music at the port building.
“This is very significant for this city,” Kopp said. “This town was a World War II town. It’s been 80 years since a destroyer has been here. This is really a big day.”
Lily Stevens Becker, Ted Steven’s daughter, attended the event, as did her mother.
“So overwhelming, so amazing,” Stevens Becker told KTUU. “My mother was definitely tearing up a bit.”
“One of the people from the Navy described it as the most powerful warship in the world,” she added. “I just think that’s such a good tribute to Ted Stevens.”
Following its commissioning, the future USS Ted Stevens will be ported in Norfolk, Va., the Navy said.
The ship was available for public tours on Wednesday and Thursday. Ticket requests for Saturday’s commissioning ceremony are full.
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