Ceremony Host:
Mr. Mike Petters, President, Northrop Grumman Newport News (View Ceremony Speech)

Ship’s Namesake:
President George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States of America, will become the first president in the history of the shipyard’s 120-year history to participate in his namesake ship’s christening.

Sponsor:
Ms. Doro Bush Koch, daughter of George H. W. and Barbara Bush, serves as the ship’s sponsor and will do the traditional honor of breaking a bottle of American sparkling wine across the ship’s bow during the ceremony.

Special Guest Speaker:
President George W. Bush (View Ceremony Speech)
43rd President of the United States of America

Other Ceremony Participants:
The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
The Honorable Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy
The Honorable John Warner, United States Senator, Virginia
Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations
The Honorable George Allen, United States Senator, Virginia
The Honorable Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia
Dr. Ronald D. Sugar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Captain Kevin E. O'Flaherty, USN, Prospective Commanding Officer, CVN 77

Entertainment

Dr. Ronan Tynan
The famed Irish Tenor - and personal friend of President George H. W. Bush - will perform “God Bless America” at the conclusion of the christening ceremony.

United States Fleet Forces Band
Conducted by Lt. Commander Ralph G. Barrett, Fleet Bandmaster
The Navy's largest Fleet Band, the Atlantic Fleet Band, was established in 1945 to support the headquarters of the Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. They provide musical support for ships, military bases, foreign dignitaries, and community relations events.

Navy Flyover (weather permitting)
Naval Aviators from Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Five, the “Gunslingers,” will perform a flyover. The Gunslingers fly the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft, versions of which have been operational throughout the fleet since 2001.

The Gunslingers are based at Naval Air Station Oceana, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and have completed two combat deployments in the last three years in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are currently attached to Carrier Air Wing Three aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-73).

VFA-105 pilots performing this morning’s flyover are Lieutenant Brian Kesselring and Lieutenant Paul Oyler. Aerial Control Team Officers are Commander Rob Surgeoner and Commander Ed Tracey. They are assigned to Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.