JULY 13, 2026 —The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131) during a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII) Shipbuilding on Saturday, July 11, at 9 a.m. CDT.
The principal address was delivered by William Toti, performing the duties of the Undersecretary of the Navy.
“The future USS George M. Neal honors a legacy of extraordinary courage and sacrifice,” said Toti. “As we christen this ship, we mark another step toward building the Navy our nation needs. Flight III destroyers are critical to our nation’s security, and we are proud to accept each one built by the skilled workforce at Ingalls.”
Additional speakers included the Honorable Mike Ezell, U.S. Representative, Mississippi’s 4th District; Vice Adm. Doug Williams, Director of Portfolio Acquisition Executive Strategic Systems Programs; and Christopher Kastner, President and Chief Executive Officer, HII.
In a time-honored tradition, the ship’s sponsor, Kelley Neal Gray, daughter of the namesake, christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.
The ship is named in honor of Korean War veteran Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during a search-and-rescue mission over North Korea. While serving with Helicopter Utility Squadron ONE (HU-1) in 1951, Neal volunteered for a perilous mission deep in enemy territory to rescue a downed aviator. After their helicopter crashed under heavy enemy fire, he aided his fellow crew members in evading capture for nine days, enduring subsequent imprisonment as a POW before his release.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet, providing protection to America around the globe. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct various operations from peacetime presence to national security and provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface domains. These elements of sea power enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.
The christening of DDG 131 underscores the Navy’s commitment to building America’s Fleet of the Future. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally, operating forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability, and the Fleet of the Future is our answer. The ceremony was livestreamed at: https://www.hii.com/events/DDG131
For more information on Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyers, visit: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169871/destroyers-ddg-51/