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The
Texas made its first voyage – on land
– Saturday, July 17 as part of its roll-out
from the Modular Outfitting Facility in preparation
for the July 31 christening ceremony. Photo
by Chris Oxley
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Northrop
Grumman Newport News employees Warren Moore
and Jerry Hayden put last minute touches on
the ceremonial cover that will adorn the bow
of the Virginia-class submarine Texas
during the christening ceremony July 31. Photo
by John Whalen
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NEWPORT
NEWS, Va. – July 19, 2004 – News media are invited
to the christening ceremony for the Virginia-class
submarine Texas (SSN 775) at Northrop Grumman
Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Newport News sector on Saturday,
July 31. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States,
is the ship’s sponsor and will christen the ship named
for her native state. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison(R-TX),
will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony. The
ceremony is not open to the public.
Arrangements
for media credentials must be made no later than Tuesday,
July 27 at 4 p.m. EDT by contacting Jennifer
Dellapenta at (757) 380-3558 or by e-mail at Jennifer.Dellapenta@ngc.com.
Northrop Grumman will provide a live satellite broadcast
of the ceremony in its entirety (downlink information
provided below).
This
ceremony marks the first submarine christening at
Newport News in more than nine years since the company
christened the final Los Angeles-class submarine,
Cheyenne. Ceremony participants will include Northrop
Grumman Newport News President Tom Schievelbein, Secretary
of the Navy Gordon England, members of Virginia’s
congressional delegation; U.S. Navy Admiral and Director
of Naval Reactors Frank "Skip" Bowman; Vice
Admiral Kirk H. Donald, U.S. Navy; and Electric Boat
President John Casey. Invited guests will include
Newport News and Electric Boat employees who are building
Texas and their families, the pre-commissioning unit
of the Texas and their families, U.S. Navy
personnel, and government officials.
Named
for the lone-star state, Texas is the second
ship of the Virginia class and one of the
first warships designed for the post-Cold War environment.
With improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance
capabilities and special warfare enhancements, it
will provide undersea supremacy well into the 21st
century. The keel for Texas was laid on July
12, 2002 and it is schedule to be delivered to the
Navy in 2005. Northrop Grumman Newport News is teamed
with General Dynamics Electric Boat to build the first
10 ships of the Virginia class.
Satellite Information
Northrop Grumman Newport News will provide a live,
multi-camera, analog satellite broadcast of the ceremony
in its entirety on July 31. Details are as follows:
Time: 10:45
a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Satellite: IA6 formerly known as Telstar 6
Transponder: 3Uku known as 3 Upper KU band (analog)
Downlink: 1805.5 Vertical
Media Schedule
There are two opportunities for media to cover this
event. All times listed are EDT.
Media
Preview Day
July 30, 2004
10 – 11 a.m.
Northrop Grumman Newport News will host a special
media preview Friday, July 30 at 10 a.m. This is an
opportunity to preview the ceremony site, photograph/film
ceremony preparations and talk with shipyard executives,
employees and the Prospective Commanding Officer for
Texas, Cmdr. John Litherland.
The
schedule for July 30 is as follows:
9:30 a.m. News media meet in lobby of Building 520
for check-in and badging (corner of 41st and Washington
Avenue; park in Visitor's Parking Area)
9:50 a.m. Media bused to the site of the Texas
christening ceremony
10 – 11 a.m. Photo and interview opportunities
11 a.m. News media depart ceremony site
Christening Ceremony
July 31, 2004
8:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (media must arrive by 8:45 a.m.)
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. News media meet in the shipyard's North
Yard parking lot for check-in and credentialing (Take
the ramp down into the shipyard at Huntington Avenue
and 64th Street and follow media parking signs.)
11:00 a.m. Texas Christening Ceremony begins
12:15 p.m. Ceremony ends; media availability with
platform participants who wish to participate will
follow the ceremony
12:30 p.m. News media depart ceremony site
If you are interested in attending either the July
30 Media Preview Day or the July 31 Christening Ceremony,
or both, please contact Jennifer Dellapenta at (757)380-3558
or Jennifer.Dellapenta@ngc.com.
Arrangements for media credentials must be
made no later than Tuesday, July 27 at 4 p.m. EDT.
Please have the following information available when
you call or e-mail:
• Names of media persons attending and their role
(reporter or photographer)
• Date and place of birth
• Social security number
• Name of news agency
Northrop
Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News,
Va., is the nation's sole designer, builder, and refueler
of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only
two companies capable of designing and building nuclear
powered submarines. Newport News also provides after-market
services for a wide array of naval and commercial
vessels. The Newport News sector employs about 19,000
people.
CONTACT:
