Mike Petters Remarks
August 11, 2005
CVN 21 Ceremonial Steel Cut and Facilities Grand Opening Ceremony

Good morning.

I’m Mike Petters and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the Steel Cutting Ceremony and Facilities Grand Opening for the CVN 21 Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier Program.

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Northrop Grumman Newport News employee Robert Dawson who is also a 21-year Army veteran.

After the pledge, please remain standing for the invocation led by Russell Blanchard, a supervisor in material control with 22 years of service as a shipbuilder. Mr. Blanchard is also a Pastor at Faith Outreach Community Church in Gatesville, North Carolina.

Robert?

Thanks to both Robert and Russell for participating in today’s ceremony.

Now I’d like to introduce the distinguished guests on our platform.

Beginning with my far left – The Honorable Joe Frank, Mayor, City of Newport News.

Rear Admiral Denby Starling II, Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

The Honorable Jo Ann Davis, United States House of Representatives, First Congressional District, Virginia.

The Honorable Bobby Scott, United States House of Representatives, Third Congressional District, Virginia.

Rear Admiral David Architzel, Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers.

And Captain Michael McMahon, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News.

There are also a few folks I want to recognize in today’s audience.

Please stand when I call your name.

We have three union leaders with us.

First, please welcome the president of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 8888, Mr. Alton Glass.

Next, please welcome the international representative and president of Local 451 of the International Union, Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America, Mr. James Allen.

Please also welcome Mr. Leland Smith, president of the International Association of Firefighters, Local I-45.

Also with us today are the co-chairmen of the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition.

Please welcome Mr. Rick Giannini, president and CEO of Milwaukee Valve Company, and Mr. Jerry Nicholson, president and CEO of Marlo Coil.

We also have with us several guests who are partnering with us in our goal to design CVN 21 using the most technologically-advanced product model for CVN 21.

Representing Dassault Systemes is Alain Houard, director, A&D Accounts.

Representing IBM is Walter Donaldson, general manager of PLM worldwide.

We appreciate everyone being here today.

There are some folks I’ve yet to mention – only because I saved the best for last.

Today we are celebrating high tech machines and high tech buildings and indeed, a new and technologically-advanced ship taking shape.

Yet none of this matters without the people.

The people who build these ships.

The people who operate these machines.

The people who work in these new facilities.

And the people who sail these ships to protect our freedom.

So would all the shipbuilders – and all the members of the United States Navy – please stand?

Shipbuilders, you know that it’s your fingerprints that will be on this ship.

It’s your skills and commitment that I’m counting on to help continue our more than century-old tradition of “always good ships.”

Today we begin a new chapter in the history of aircraft carriers.

A history that began not far from here when commercial pilot Eugene Ely (E – lee) flew his Curtiss-Hudson plane off the cruiser Birmingham in 1910, marking the first time a plane flew off the deck of a ship.

Twenty-three years later, Newport News Shipbuilding launched USS Ranger, the first ship built as an aircraft carrier from the keel up.

History was made again and again at Newport News as we built carriers whose names should sound familiar– names like Yorktown, Midway, Coral Sea, Forrestal, Enterprise, America, Nimitz, Ronald Reagan – just to name a few.

As shipbuilders, we take great pride in building these ships.

Yet, the Navy folks here should know we recognize that what truly makes them legendary -- why they are called 90,000 tons of diplomacy -- is the service they provide to America under the leadership of the finest Navy in the world.

So it’s with our Navy and Congressional partners that today we cut some of the first steel for the next generation aircraft carrier – CVN 21.

This ship will be a testament to the carrier classes before her -- and then some.

CVN 78 will have improved capabilities over the Nimitz-class – a class of ships that has proven very capable for three decades.

CVN 21 is designed for efficiency over the 50 year lifecycle while providing America with the kind of forward presence unique to aircraft carriers and so critical in today’s uncertain world.

Changes include a newly designed propulsion plant, an enlarged flight deck, an increased allowance for future technologies – including electric weapons -- and electromagnetic catapults with advanced arresting gear.

Building CVN 21 is also allowing us to reengineer the way we build ships.

Today we’re standing in one of the new facilities designed just for this new class of carriers – in the shadow of some of the most technologically advanced machines in the world – machines that can press 5000 tons of steel at once or simultaneously cut two sides of some of the thickest steel.

In this building alone we have the ESAB (E-SOB) Avenger Burning machine that you see to my left, the Hugh Smith Press behind you and a variety of Virginia cranes above you, all designed for maximum efficiency.

While efficiency is at the forefront of our goals, many of the new facilities are designed as covered buildings -- an added quality of life benefit for our employees.

What you can’t see from here are the other facilities we’re putting in place to help build CVN 21 – so now I’d like to show you a brief video.

(Video)

So as you can see, ladies and gentlemen, we’re building the future at Northrop Grumman Newport News.

Now it’s my pleasure to introduce our first guest speaker.

This naval officer knows Newport News-built ships – during his career he has served aboard USS Forrestal, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS John C. Stennis and as Commanding Officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Highly decorated, he’s a 1975 Naval Academy grad who just was selected as Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers.

Please give a great Newport News welcome to Rear Admiral David Architzel.

(Architzel remarks)

Thanks Admiral. We look forward to working with you in your new position and continuing to build this new carrier with your team.

Our next guest speaker is a tireless advocate for shipbuilding and for a strong American defense.

Currently serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, service on committees include the House Armed Services, International Relations and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

She’s a great friend to Newport News so please welcome her back to the shipyard, the Honorable Jo Ann Davis.

(Davis Remarks)

Thanks Jo Ann – it’s always great to have you here.

Our final guest speaker represents the third district – home to Northrop Grumman Newport News and many of our employees.

He has a long and distinguished record of public service and this year began his seventh term as a member of Congress.

Prior to this he spent 15 years in the Virginia General Assembly.

He serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Known in Congress as a champion of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution, he’s also known as an ardent supporter of Newport News.

Please welcome the Honorable Bobby Scott.

Thank you Bobby and thank you for being here for this special event.

Now ladies and gentlemen, we’re ready to cut some steel.

Let me explain what you are about to see.

The big machine to my left is one I mentioned earlier, the ESAB (E-SOB) Avenger Burning Machine.

I am going to ask all of our platform guests to join me in autographing the steel plate before it is cut.

This plate, by the way, is about fifteen tons and will eventually become part of a sideshell unit in the first ship of the CVN 21 class.

After we sign the plate, I will give the “go” signal to Wayne Kania, 30-year shipyard veteran who is a machine hand specialist.

Wayne will start the Avenger Burning Machine and you’ll note that this machine will cut four bevels at once in the plate.

Now I’d like to ask all the platform guests to please follow me.

(Steel Cutting)

Great job Wayne!

Well folks, you’ve just witnessed history made once again at Newport News.

We can’t wait to have everyone back when we lay the keel.

My thanks to all of our guests for being here today.

My thanks to the US Navy for your partnership.

My thanks to our elected officials for your important support.

And my thanks to all of the shipbuilders for doing what you do each and every day – building great ships.

I hope everyone enjoyed the ceremony.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

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