America’s Most-Advanced Warship Built with Chesapeake Parts.

(Chesapeake, VA) – The newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier design in 40 years, Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), is set to be commissioned by the U.S. Navy on Saturday, July 22, 2017. When it does, there will be components of the ship manufactured in Chesapeake, VA. The commissioning of a ship is a grand ceremony culminating with raising the commissioning pennant to the masthead and for all purposes of law and tradition, the ship then becomes a United States Ship (USS) of the line.

Ford’s commissioning marks the accomplishment of years of construction and design and countless hours of work.  Jo-Kell and its workforce of over 60 men and women are part of the industrial base that supplies parts and services to Newport News Shipbuilding, the builder of the ship.

Last month, the Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers, Rear Admiral Brian Antonio said, “Over the last several years, thousands of people have had a hand in delivering Ford to the Navy — designing, building and testing the Navy’s newest, most capable, most advanced warship. Without a doubt, we would not be here without the hard work and dedication of those from the program office, our engineering teams and those who performed and oversaw construction of this incredible warship.”

“The commissioning of Ford is a tremendous milestone built through countless hour of work by shipbuilders and thousands of men and women in the carrier supply chain,” says Suzy Kelly CEO of Jo-Kell, Inc. “Fair winds and following seas to the crew of Ford.”

Last year, the U.S. Navy testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Seapower Subcommittee about the ship, “The Ford-class design improves war fighting capability, survivability, operational availability, and quality of life for sailors, while reducing total billets, including ship’s crew and air wing, by nearly 1,200 personnel and decreasing total ownership costs by approximately 4 billion per ship.”

Ford will continue the legacy of air power from the sea as the cornerstone of U.S. military supremacy around the globe.

More information on Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78): http://www.thefordclass.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/USSGeraldRFord

Categorized in: Jo-Kell Misc, News