BATH — The soon-to-be USS Michael Monsoor will be commissioned Saturday in San Diego.
The 16,000-ton, 610-foot long destroyer is one of three Zumwalt-class destroyers built at Bath Iron Works. The lead ship of that class, the USS Zumwalt, was commissioned in 2016. The third and final ship of that class, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson, was launched in December and is set to be christened this spring.
The Navy touts that the Zumwalt-class destroyers as “the most lethal and sophisticated destroyers ever built.” The ships feature a tumblehome wave-piercing hull, a stealth design, two Rolls-Royce main turbine generators and an all-electric propulsion system.
The destroyer is named after Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, who was stationed in Iraq. After he and several other troops came under enemy fire, the 25-year-old is reported to have jumped on a live grenade to save the lives of his fellow Navy SEALs and Iraqi soldiers. Monsoor was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in Iraq in 2006.
California Congressman Scott Peters will deliver the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Sally Monsoor, Michael’s mother, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when Sally Monsoor will give the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”
The ship departed Bath in November as part of its long journey to San Diego, its designated homeport. After several stops, the ship passed through the Panama Canal and arrived in San Diego last month.
The commissioning will take place at 10 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Naval Air Station North Island. The ceremony will be streamed live at navy.mil/ah_online/live/ah-live.asp.
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