The United States Navy is set to christen its newest Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer, the future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), in a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. CDT in Pascagoula, Mississippi. This significant event marks the introduction of another powerful vessel into the Navy’s fleet, reinforcing its maritime capabilities.
The ship is named in honor of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, a pioneering figure who served as the second Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps starting in 1911. Remarkably, she was also the first living woman to be awarded the Navy Cross, highlighting her extraordinary contributions. Higbee was among the first 20 women, known as the “Sacred Twenty,” to join the newly established Navy Nurse Corps in 1908. Her dedication and nursing expertise were invaluable to the Navy, particularly during World War I. This is the second vessel to bear her name, following the USS Higbee (DD 806), which was historically significant as the first combat warship named after a woman in the U.S. Navy.
The christening ceremony will feature distinguished speakers, including the Honorable Ray Mabus, the 75th Secretary of the Navy, who will deliver the principal address. Mr. Jay Stefany, acting assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, and Rear Adm. Cynthia Kuehner, Commander, Naval Medical Forces Support Command, will also offer remarks. In accordance with naval tradition, the ship’s sponsors, Ms. Louisa Dixon, Ms. Virginia Munford, and Ms. R. Pickett Wilson, will officially christen the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine against its bow.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker emphasized the enduring significance of the new destroyer: “The future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee will stand as a lasting tribute to Ms. Higbee’s dedicated service to our nation and her steadfast commitment to a robust and healthy Navy and Marine Corps team. This vessel not only commemorates her distinguished service but also recognizes the vital contributions of all our Navy nurses who are essential to the strength and well-being of our service members and their families.”
As the 73rd Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee is part of a program that currently includes 20 ships under contract within the DDG 51 program. Configured as a Flight IIA destroyer, this class of vessel is engineered for power projection, rapid response, substantial firepower, and enhanced electronic countermeasures for anti-air warfare. The specifications of the future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee include a length of 509.5 feet and a width of 59 feet, with a displacement of 9,496 tons. San Diego will serve as its homeport.
For media inquiries, please contact the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. Further details on guided-missile destroyer programs are available at https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169871/destroyers-ddg/. Additional information about Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee can be found at https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/namesakes/lenah-higbee.html.
