The United States Navy commissioned USS Billings (LCS15), a Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship, on August 3, 2019. Billings is the first ship named after Billings, Montana. The ship’s sponsor, Shirley Tester, brought the ship to life.
Transcript
Officers, draw swords. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to Naval Station Key West Florida and to the commissioning ceremony of USS Billings. I am commander Aaron Helgerson, the ship’s executive officer. On behalf of the crew, I would like to extend our sincere thanks for joining us here today. Before we begin, I would ask you to please silence your cell phones for the duration of the ceremony, thank you. We are here today to celebrate the commissioning of the first ship to bear the name of the largest city in Montana. The ship before you is the eighth Freedom-variant littoral combat ship and was christened by our ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Sharla Tester, and launched on July 1, 2017, in Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Today, she is complete, and we are proud to serve in the newest warship in the United States Navy. We are honored to carry the name of the Big Sky State’s magic city. Our ceremony today is a time-honored tradition, which began with the commissioning with our first ship, a captured British schooner, the Margaretta in 1775. Since then, thousands of ships have undergone the transformation from silent hulls to fully alive warships. Our commissioning crew, hereafter known as plank owners, are in formation among you and ready. In just a few moments, the Navy Band Southeast and Naval Station Norfolk Saluting Battery will render honors to the Honorable Jon Tester. Will the guests please rise and remain standing for the arrival of our official party? Honors, presentation of colors, our National Anthem, and the invocation. Ladies and gentlemen, our platform guests. Lieutenant Junior Grade Matthew Spurlock, Chaplain Corp, United State Navy, Commander Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two, Command Chaplain. Mr. Preston Brewer, Navy League of the United States, Key West Council President. Captain Shawn Johnston, United States Navy, Commander Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. Captain Michael Taylor, United States Navy, Program Manager, Littoral Combat Ships. Captain Joseph Tuite, the United States Navy, supervisor of Shipbuilding Bath. Ms. Jan Allman, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Mr. Paul Lemmo, Vice President, Lockheed Martin, Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors. Mr. Jim Scholl, City Manager, City of Key West, Florida. The Honorable Bill Cole, Mayor, City of Billings, Montana. Read Admiral Casey Moton, the United States Navy, Program Executive Officer Unmanned and Small Combatants. Admiral Craig S. Faller, United States Navy, Commander United States Southern Command. The Honorable James Geurts, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research Development and Acquisition. Ladies and gentlemen, our ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Sharla Tester, escorted today by Command Master Chief Dennisha McElveen, United States Navy, Billings Command Master Chief. Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Jon Tester, United States Senator, State of Montana, escorted today by our commanding officer, Commander Nathan Rowan, United States Navy. Ladies and gentlemen, honors for the Honorable Jon Tester. (military march music) (large gun booming repeatedly) Platform ready, two. Advance the colors. (military march music) [Officer] Salute. (“The Star-Spangled Banner”)
[Aaron] Retire the colors.
[Sailor] Order, halt. Honor guard, close.
Platform ready, two. We’d like to thank the Naval Air Station Key West Color Guard, Navy Band Southeast, and the Naval Station Norfolk Saluting Battery for their support today. Ladies and gentlemen, Chaplain Spurlock will deliver the invocation.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, who offers salvation, joy, and eternal life, we bow our heads in prayer and lift our hearts in sincere thanksgiving for the bountiful evidence of your rich blessing upon our lives and our great nation. We thank you for those who have tirelessly labored in building and preparing the USS Billings and those who have faithfully supported this ship and those aboard her to reach evolution, test, and trial. I pray you would humble us, as we reflect on the sacrifices, separation, and struggles the command crew and those within the squadron have endured to bring the USS Billings before us today. Their strength and resilience is a testimony of your guidance and grace. And though your presence is from everlasting to everlasting, we are grateful that you are in the midst of us this moment. We ask for your blessing as we begin the ceremony. May each of us rest in the comfort of your presence and bring honor and glory to all that is said and accomplished here today. Oh King of kings and Lord of lords, I pray this in your most holy name, amen.
[Aaron] Thank you Chaplain Spurlock. Will the guests please be seated? Ship’s company, parade, rest. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jim Scholl.
Thanks, XO. Good morning, Key West.
[Audience] Good morning.
It’s my privilege and honor to be here today representing Mayor Teri Johnston, who unfortunately could not be here today. I’d like to welcome all of our distinguished guests here on the platform, certainly Commander Rowan and the crew. Master Chief, the ship looks awesome, outstanding job, and how ’bout this Chamber of Commerce weather here today? (audience cheering) So Chaplain, thanks for that, that’s awesome. Key West is a historic Navy town. We’ve had a continuous Navy presence since 1823. This is the second United States Navy vessel that will be commissioned here in Key West. And Mayor Cole and the city of Billings is gonna have a great honor, as the city of Key West does, to have a Navy vessel named in honor of the city. Ours is a nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Key West, SSN-722, so it’s a great honor and it’s a great responsibility we have, a relationship with that crew, that I think is second to none. Bill, certainly look forward for you guys having the same honor. It’s a rare occasion as I said, we’d like to welcome everyone, enjoy your time here in town, and we’ll get on with the ceremony, thank you. (audience applauding)
[Aaron] Thank you, Mr. Scholl. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Paul Lemmo.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. What a great Navy day. If anybody’s wondering, we do have a great view up here. It’s a great privilege to be here today to represent the industry team that built this remarkable ship before us. Special congratulations and thanks to Admiral Craig Faller, the Honorable James Geurts, Senator Jon Tester, Ship Sponsor Mrs. Sharla Tester, the Commissioning Committee, the crew, and all the people who worked to make this event a success. More than 10 years ago, I had the privilege to be on the team that helped design and compete to build this great warship. It’s so exciting to see yet another LCS join the fleet and emerge from design to reality. The security environment of the 21st century requires new approaches to outpace enemy threats as we continue the changes in the political landscape. Our adversaries are expanding their capabilities and becoming more advanced. As a result, we need a lethal force, created through an unprecedented level of innovation. The Freedom-class ship was designed to meet and defeat threats in today’s environment, with the flexibility to integrate technology, to meet the missions of the future. Today, LCS 15 enters the fleet. Her capabilities are designed to complete specific missions, including surface, mine countermeasures, and anti-surface warfare. Sailors can rely on Billings to be a home as they launch their humanitarian aid, special operations, and other missions. We would not be here today to celebrate this achievement were it not for the steadfast partnership of our industry team and the US Navy. Lockheed Martin and our partners, Fincantieri Marinette Marine and Gibbs & Cox, are inspired by sailors who deploy around the world, away from their families and loved ones to protect the security of our nation and our allies. One day, Billings will sail in harm’s way. As innovative as this ship is, as extraordinary as her technology may be, she is nothing without the skill and courage of the crew. With the support of her sailors, she will stand firm in defending the interest of our nation because that is what the United States Navy has done for more than 240 years. Commander Rowan, members of the Gold Crew, on behalf of Lockheed Martin and the entire LCS industry team, it’s an honor to be in your presence today and to play a role in supporting your critical missions. We wish you godspeed, fair winds, and following seas. Thank you. (audience applauding)
[Aaron] Thank you, Mr. Lemmo. Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Bill Cole.
Good morning, it’s a beautiful day in Key West. As mayor of Montana’s largest city, and as chairman of the USS Billings Commissioning Committee, it’s a great honor to address you today and a privilege to be part of the USS Billings team. On behalf of the residents of the city of Billings, Yellowstone County, and the entire state of Montana, I say to Commander Rowan, the crew of the USS Billings, the USS Navy, and to all the dedicated contractors and workers who built this warrior of the waves, congratulations on the success of your journey thus far, and may you forever have fair winds and following seas. A few facts about the namesake city. Blessed by a diversified economy and a beautiful natural environment, Billings, Montana, is the face of the New West, modern, yet rooted in tradition, just as the USS Billings is the face of the new Navy, fast and flexible, but nurtured by 243 years of naval history. Montanans understand the value and sacrifice of military service, as we have more veterans per capita than any other state in the country, other than Alaska. According to Google Maps, 2,637.6 miles normally separate Billings, Montana, from Key West, Florida. But today, our cities lie side by side, united in a common purpose, one family. Today, we are all dedicated to celebrating and supporting the men and women who will soon bring this fast and fearsome fighting machine to life. That commendment is not only for today, but it is for every day, every day that a ship of the US Navy bears the name Billings on her stern. In case some of you were a bit geographically challenged, Billings is not exactly a major seaport. The last time a really famous military boat visited our valley was in 1806, when Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition paddled down Yellowstone River in two hollowed-out cottonwood trees. This is the first ship of the US Navy to be named after our city, and it was not until Senator Tester stepped up to the plate that this day became a reality. His wife, Sharla, the sponsor of the ship, has been engaged 100% from day one, and has always prioritized the best interests of the crew and their families. On behalf of our city and our state, I say thank you to the whole Tester family. (audience applauding) I also offer my most sincere thanks and congratulations to everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this commissioning and the many events leading up to it a great success, including the officers and crew of the US Billings, the Navy’s commissioning support team, PEOUSC, McKean Defense Group, the Billings Commissioning Committee, the Key West Navy League, and all of the many businesses and individuals who contributed thousands of dollars and untold hours to bring this ship to life. None of this would have happened without your hard work and team spirit. The citizens of Billings and the state of Montana will always be proud to call this ship their own, and I hope the men and women of the ship will always be proud to serve on a vessel that bears our city’s name. To the crew, know that wherever you sail, the people of Billings will always be with you, and the big sky will always be over you. Thank you. (audience applauding)
[Aaron] Thank you, Mayor Cole. Ladies and gentlemen, Admiral Craig S. Faller.
Good morning, (speaking in foreign language). What an awesome day. You know, you’re getting that spirit here, that Key West spirit, Billings, Montana, spirit, it’s coming together. Trying to think of one word captures today. Wow is about as good as I got, maybe awesome, maybe hot if you’re out there. (audience laughing) So I’ll be short. I think big sky over troubled waters is a great namesake, great slogan for a ship. It’s kind of curious that we picked hurricane season to do a commissioning frankly, (audience laughing) but Secretary Geurts has more control over that than anybody else, so you can ask him about that later. But God blessed us today with a Chamber of Commerce kind of day, so thank you. There’s a word in Costa Rica that epitomizes spirit today, it’s a two-word phrase (speaking in foreign language). Means pure life, it means don’t worry, be happy. Down there it means a lot of things, but it’s good, it’s a good spirit. You think about freedom, the word freedom, Freedom-class, that is great word, freedom. And that’s what we’re here today, all of us, representing. The other word that goes out today is thank you, to the shipbuilders, the ship fitters, the designers, the taxpayers of the United States of America, to the Tester family, to the city of Billings, Mr. Mayor, thank you. The city of Key West, two independently fierce, different, but so much alike cities that bring the strength of America together right here today. So thank you. I’d like to especially thank the crew and their families. In a few minutes, they’re gonna double-time aboard this ship and bring it to life. It’s gonna fill us with spirit. It’s their hard work and sacrifices that brought this day to fruition. So, thanks. When you see them go aboard, you’ll see how diverse they are, how strong they are. You won’t actually see it, but you’ll know they’re smart, and they’re clever. (audience laughing) That wasn’t actually meant to be funny actually, but I’ll have to remember that one. But you’re gonna see the very best of Billings and Key West and Sioux City and Wichita and Pittsburgh and every other place in this wonderful country of ours. This warship behind us, it’s fast, it’s lethal, it can fight, and so can this crew, if they have to. But you know, a warship and its crew, they’re better when they’re ambassadors. They’re better when they put a hand out, a hand of friendship, a hand of comfort, reassurance. But make no mistake, they can bring it. They’ve got power and they can fight if they need to, and that’s the power behind this crew. Last week, I had the honor to be somewhere close to here, Costa Rica on the United States Naval ship Comfort. That ship’s motto is united we sail. Comfort is on an international mission, led by the United States, but make no mistake, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, Columbia, doctors and nurses and healthcare physicians from all over the world are united to help people, to extend a hand, to lend comfort that’s a result of the crisis in Venezuela. And of course, where the ship’s needed the most, Venezuela, it’s not gonna get to go. You know, this is our neighborhood here in the western hemisphere, just like Key West, Billings. We got a lot in common, shared values, shared beliefs, democracy. Had the opportunity to be on United States Naval ship Comfort, and I was watching young men, women, boys, girls from not just Costa Rica, but from Venezuela, Nicaragua, getting treated. This little boy came up to me. He couldn’t see. He was waiting in line for healthcare treatment. His mom was with him. I gave him a little sticker. He didn’t know what it was. She explained it, and he reach up, and he touched my eyes, and he gave me a Spanish blessing. You know, sailors are supposed to be tough, like this ship. Well maybe not, maybe not. And it struck me then, as it strikes me today, that we’re building our future, our freedom, one person, one ship, one crew member at a time, and that’s one thing that today represents. It represents our future. And this ship’s gonna sail, and maybe you’ll be sailing in the Caribbean, maybe in the eastern Pacific, maybe in the Strait of Hormuz, and it can bring it. It’s gonna show the best. It’ll operate together with other ships, other littoral combat ships, and it’ll be fearsome and stealthy and scary, like a Montana wolf pack. Only this time, they’re working for us. This ship could be operating under the command and control of Joint Interagency Task Force South, right here in Key West, and Read Admiral DeQuattro, Pat DeQuattro, is sitting in the front row. He runs that fine team. And as the city manager said, since 1800s, this base has been a strategic location. I wanna tell you, right now, today, United States Southern Command and I am all in to make sure we get the investments and the quality of life and the infrastructure to ensure that 50 years from now, this base remains a strategic asset to the United States of America. You have our commitment. (audience applauding) Got a message for the crew and you. My message for the crew, simple. Know your job and do your job. Do it with gusto and do it with integrity. You will make a difference. You will be the force behind this lethal warship. For you, for all of us, remember that (speaking in foreign language), that spirit today. Take it away, tell the story wherever you go. Influence and inspire someone else to be that crew. We’re making a difference, each and every one of us, by being here, by serving in this great nation, by supporting the United States Navy. God bless USS Billings and this great nation, and all of you, thank you for what you do. (audience applauding)
[Aaron] Thank you Admiral Faller. Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable James Geurts.
Well, good morning. It’s been an amazing day so far, and the good news is you’ve made it to the seventh inning stretch. Soon, you’re gonna see this warship come to life, and see all these words we’ve been saying up here in actions by the crew and the officers of the ship. Distinguished platform guests, our wonderful ship sponsor, Sharla, crew and family of the USS Billings, fellow veterans, shipbuilders, fellow Americans, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming out here today for this ceremony. It’s great to be back in Florida, not only ’cause it’s not Washington, D.C., but also ’cause it’s the home of great support for our military families. These two states we’re talking about today, Florida and Montana, are our two finest states for supporting our military and their families. Thank you very much for that. It means a lot to us. Participating in these commissioning ceremonies is one of the most enjoyable things I get to do because it represents two of our best traits, teamwork and commitment. The teamwork and commitment from our shipbuilders and the thousands of suppliers who built this ship, the teamwork and commitment from our sailors, who’ve been training hard every day, and their families, who have been supporting them, so that we could get to this point of commissioning a ship. The teamwork from our Congress and from all of you out there in America that enable us to continue to build a navy the nation needs. It’s an exciting time for your navy. Last year, we commissioned eight warships. This year, we’re gonna commission more. We’re building the navy the nation needs, and we’re putting great capabilities in the hands of our sailors. While we give all our warships the most cutting edge technology and the most lethal capabilities, we have given this ship one capability we have never put in the fleet before, one that will make her more lethal, more survivable, more impactful than any other ship. And that’s our wonderful sponsor, Sharla. A ship sponsor is the spirit of the ship, that Admiral Faller kind of comments there. And I can’t think of no better sponsor to help this ship guide her crew, keep them close to our hearts, as they go do the dangerous missions our nation’s gonna ask them to do. With this well-trained crew, the support of Billings, the Jacksonville community, the American people, I’m confident the USS Billings is ready to join the line and defend our great nation. God bless this ship, her crew, and her families. God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (audience applauding) Now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s my distinct pleasure to introduce today’s keynote speaker, Senator Jon Tester of Montana. Senator Tester’s a champion of our nation’s military, our military families, and especially our veterans. As a ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and a key member of the Appropriations Committee, serving on both the defense and military construction sub-committees, he’s a proven record of fighting to ensure our military is resilient and our veterans are well supported. We would not be able to build and sustain the navy the nation needs without his strong and consistent support. I can think of no one more appropriate to serve as our keynote speaker for this great day for our navy and our country. Please welcome Senator Tester to the stage. (audience applauding)
Thank you for the kind remarks.
All you.
Well, thank you Secretary Geurts. It is great to be here. A special thanks to Admiral Faller, Commander Rowan, to Mayor Cole, and all the Navy and Billings officials that helped make today a reality. I also wanna welcome all of you from Montana that are here, all of you that have connections to Montana, and all of you that want to go to Montana some day. I don’t know about you, Mayor Cole, but when I look out here from this stand, it does look a lot like Billings. The Yellowstone River’s a little bit wider here than it is in Billings, but it is great to be here. It is great to be here in Key West on a sunny and toasty day for the official commissioning of this beautiful ship. This is a day that has been a long time coming, and finally it is here. It is here because of all of you, and I wanna take a moment to thank my wife of 41 years and 11 months as of today, Sharla Tester. Those of you that are been affiliated with this ship, the USS Billings, know that she has been with the crew every step of the way. Most of the best things that I do, whether it’s in the US Senate or back on our farm in north-central Montana are because of her, and today is no exception. As a symbolic mother of this ship, Sharla has had the opportunity to visit with many of the sailors and the families who will man it. And I know she’ll be thinking of them constantly, and especially when they’re at sea. And I also wanna recognize my daughter, who is matron of honor, and her 15-year-old daughter, which is our granddaughter is the maid of honor. Unfortunately, school started the day before yesterday in Indiana. I can’t figure out why they start the first of August, but they do, and she can’t make it. I also wanna recognize my son, Shon, who is here. This has truly been a family affair. This commission has been a long time coming. When I first got to the United States Senate in 2007, I teamed up with the Montana VFW, the American Legion, the DAV, to push the Navy for a ship named for Montana. In the past, we’ve come close to naming a vessel after the Treasure State. The USS Montana entered the Navy in 1906, but it was renamed a few years later. During World War II, plans were underway to build a new battleship named the USS Montana, but it was scrapped in favor of a new class of aircraft carriers. And initially, we didn’t get very far in 2007 when we asked the Navy to name a battleship after the USS Billings, but you know what, the folks in Billings didn’t give up. They kept on pushing. They pushed because well, naming a vessel for the city of Billings, a landlocked state, to some might seem a bit head-scratching, but it made perfect sense to the folks of Billings and those who know Montana. We are a state that prides ourself in military service. And Montana has one of the highest rates of people who sign up for the military. It also has one of the highest rates of veterans, as the mayor pointed out, that live in the state of Montana. So in 2013, the Navy agreed to the name, and in 2015, construction began. In 2017, the ship was christened the USS Billings, and in 2019, after construction trials, it was delivered to the Navy, and a few weeks ago, it set sail for Key West for this official commissioning. I think it is fitting that this ship is a testament to a community that never gives up because that’s the same code that our sailors live up to. The USS Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship to be delivered to the Navy. It is highly maneuverable, lethal, and adaptable to any force that may be reckoned with. It is designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare missions. It is on the cutting edge of modern naval technology. It will represent the city of Billings, our state of Montana, and this nation proudly by defending the waters around us. At a time of new global threats and complex challenges, this ship’s motto, Big Sky Over Troubled Water, is fitting. It will be critical to the support of our men and women in uniform to keep our world safe and to keep America safe. I am ranking member of the Senate Affairs Committee. I am charged with assuring when our men and women come home after their mission keeping us safe abroad, that a grateful nation takes care of them as they have taken care of us. That means ensuring those who have served get the cares and the benefits that were agreed to. You can bet that I will continue to work hard in D.C. to make sure that Washington works hard for our veterans, and it is my hope that the USS Billings will also serve as a testament to this country’s commitment to our veterans and service members, no matter where or when they have served. It’ll serve this country proudly in the international waters for decades to come. Look, Billings’ nickname is the Magic City. It is my hope that the missions performed by the USS Billings in the dangerous world that we live in will be graced by the magic of the Magic City, Billings, Montana. A special thanks to all the veterans here and all our active duty sailors and Marines, their families that are in the audience today. Absolutely none of this would be possible without you. Now let’s get this ship up and running. God bless you all. (audience applauding)
Thank you, Senator Tester. Secretary Geurts, I will be honored if you will place Billings in commission.
On behalf of the Secretary of the Navy and for the President of the United States, I hereby place the United States Ship Billings in commission. May God bless and guide this warship and all who shall sail on her. Congratulations Captain.
Thank you. (audience applauding)
Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Executive Officer, hoist the colors and the commission pennant.
Aye aye, sir. Billings, atten-hut. The commission pennant in professional national navies began to take form late in the 17th century. All ships at that time were sailing ships, and it was often difficult to tell a naval ship from a merchantman. Navies began to adopt long narrow pennants to be flown by their ships at the main masthead to distinguish themselves from merchant ships. The commission pennant will fly continuously until the ship is decommissioned. I direct your attention to the ship’s mast as we hoist the commission pennant and the flag of our United States of America. Quartermaster, hoist the colors and the commission pennant.
Aye aye, sir. (drums drumming) (audience applauding)
[Aaron] Captain, the colors and commissioning pennant are flying over USS Billings.
Very well.
[Aaron] Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. You’re already seated. (audience laughing)
I will now read my orders. From Chief of Navy Personnel to Commander Nathan Rowan, United States Navy. Subject, BUPERS orders number 1013. When directed by reporting senior, assume duties as commanding officer, pre-commissioning unit Billings, for duties in conjunction with fitting-out. Upon commissioning of Billings, report for duty as commanding officer. Admiral Faller, Billings is in commission, I am in command.
[Craig] Very well.
Executive Officer, set the watch.
[Aaron] Aye aye, sir. Officer of the deck, set the first watch.
[Ashley] Aye aye, sir.
[Aaron] The Officer of the Deck is the commanding officer’s direct representative and while on watch, is responsible for the safety and smooth operation of the ship and her crew. The long glass is their traditional symbol of an Officer of the Deck’s authority in a ship of the line. We’re honored to have Billings mayor, the Honorable Bill Cole, here today to assist in setting our first watch. He will pass our ship’s long glass to our first Officer of the Deck, Lieutenant Ashley Evans from Rota, Spain. The Petty Officer of the Watch is Mineman Second Class, Anthony Galvan from Sacramento, California. The Messenger of the Watch is Information Systems Technician Third Class, Zachary Coykendall from Brighton, Michigan, and the Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch is Boatswain’s Mate Chief, Jeremy Bodges from Centennial, Colorado. (whistle tweets)
Set the watch, on deck, section one.
Sir, first watch has been set.
[Aaron] Very well. Captain, the watch is set.
[Nathan] Very well. We are delighted to have our sponsor, Sharla Tester, here with us today. Mrs. Tester christened the ship in Marinette, Wisconsin, on July 1, 2017. Sharla, I would honored if you would join me and give the order to man our ship and bring her to life.
I’m welcomed and humbled to be here, but I’m changing protocol. Would every family member of the crew of the USS Billings please stand and repeat after me in manning our ship? (audience applauding) Here we go. Officers and crew.
[Audience] Officers and crew.
USS Billings, man our ship and bring her to life.
[Audience] USS Billings, man our ship and bring her to life.
There we go, woohoo. (audience cheering) (“Anchors Aweigh”) (bell chiming) (whistle tweeting) (signal beeping) (siren wailing) (horn honking)
[Aaron] Ladies and gentlemen, the crew of USS Billings salutes you. (audience applauding) We are proud to serve in your great Navy. Ready, two. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Captain, USS Billings is manned and ready, sir.
[Nathan] Very well. Commodore Johnston, USS Billings is manned and ready. I report for duty.
[Shawn] Very well.
[Nathan] Secretary Geurts, request permission to break your flag.
[James] Permission granted.
[Nathan] Very well. Executive Officer, break the flag of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
[Aaron] Aye aye, sir. Quartermaster, break the flag of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
[Quartermaster] Aye aye, sir. (drums drumming)
[Aaron] Captain, the flag of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy is flying over USS Billings, sir.
[Nathan] Very well.
[Aaron] Ladies and gentlemen, Commander Nathan Rowan, commanding officer, United States Ship Billings. (audience applauding)
Billings, parade rest. Good morning, everyone. I would like to start by thanking each and every one of you for your attendance today. You have literally traveled to the end of the United States to be with us. It’s a real Instagram moment when you’re further south than the southernmost point. Please join me in welcoming all our distinguished guests, family, friends, and veterans to this event. Today, we will be honoring many formal traditions to mark the ceremonial beginning for USS Billings, but I also would like this opportunity to press upon you how resilient this particular crew is, and how exciting and progressive the LCS class of warship is. Before I get into my speech, there are a few people who are not present up on the dais with me that I would like to recognize. First, allow me to say a special thank you to Mr. Ron Spence, who served as co-chair for Billings Commissioning Committee. (audience applauding) Ron was indeed the first individual from Montana to personally make me feel welcome. Planning a commissioning is a tough and sometimes thankless job, and Ron has been championing this task for nearly three years. Ron, job well done. You should be very proud of everything we’ve accomplished in making this happen today. Next, I want to acknowledge four individuals from the crew. When I checked into Littoral Squadron Two over three years ago, there were only seven sailors in the unit. I was the first officer to show up, and it was a pleasure to see the sailors who preceded me were already working diligently to drive expectations and build a cohesive crew. From that day, I knew I was joining a winning team. Like me, three of those original seven have since been transferred to other crews, but our faithful four, as I still call them, still remain. Thank you to BMC Bodges, ITC Hartman, CS1 Prince, and GSM1 Rodriguez. You were the genesis of this outstanding crew, and I’m glad you are here to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Some of you may know, this is the second time this year I’ve had the honor of being the commanding officer of a ship being commissioned. Commissioning a warship is a privilege only a few officers ever get, and of those few, it would typically only occur once in their career. But for me, being here with the USS Billings, it’s even more special as we have shared history. My first duty station as CO was with the crew of LCS 15. So I guess this naturally has personal sentimental value. It’s been like a homecoming of sorts, with lots of fond memories. One of my favorite memories is my first trip to Montana, where along with the plank owners aboard, I was welcome to the city of Billings. Apparently, hospitality is not just a southern thing because the people of Billings treated us like family, and since then, we have grown relationships that will affect me for a lifetime. I remember our first walk-through of the ship in Wisconsin, and I was the CO at her christening ceremony. Although new orders and transitioning are part and parcel of Navy life, I admit, it was tough for me to leave the ship and crew when I learned that plans had changed, and I was to take command and commission USS Wichita. Little did I know, time, circumstance, and almost a butterfly effect would result in so many unpredictable chain of events, converging to bring me back here, providing me an opportunity to share this moment with all of you. And while I am so pleased to be here, I’m even more proud of the progress of the ship and the crew since my departure. The credits and accolades totally really belong to all the officers, chief petty officers, and crew that have worked diligently to bring her here today. This past year for me has personally had a recurrent theme, which is finish what you start. In May, I had the privilege of completing my second master degree, something I started over 14 years ago. Due to operational commitments and timing back then, I was just shy of graduating, but could not devote enough time to a thesis. As fate would have it, last year I received an invitation from the university to return and complete the program. I knew it would be a difficult balancing act to take a virtual class, write a real thesis, and maintain the demands of commissioning USS Wichita, complete combat systems and weapons testing, and navigate a major inspection of the ship successfully. Needless to say, it was a strenuous year, and I officially now have a few more gray hairs. But through hard work and perseverance, I was able to finish my degree. (audience applauding) I can tell you, my personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment is priceless, undoubtedly worth all the effort. But as life so often does, when I thought I had crossed the finish line in May, it seemed the universe really wanted me to drive home the lesson of finish what you start one more time by giving me another job to complete. Over two years ago, I had the opportunity to christen this fine ship, and in the process, build a wonderful relationship with our ship’s sponsor, Mrs. Tester. Shortly after that, the Navy sent me on a public relations trip to Billings, Montana, where I was overwhelmed by the friendliness and patriotism I encountered from all of the people I met there. That experience undoubtedly inspired me and the other plank owning sailors to go the extra mile and commit ourselves to making USS Billings, and this commissioning experience appear to expectations. I am so honored that I was given the opportunity to once again finish what I started. In late June, I was able to reunite with USS Billings, lead these sailors through the remainder of their sailor round, resume preparations with Mrs. Tester and the commissioning committee, and take part in this ceremony today. This privilege is not lost on me. I am humbled by it, and I hope to exceed expectations in my remaining time with the Billings, setting the tone for a safe, successful, and sustained legacy of this ship and all who would serve aboard her, which brings me back to the crew. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most in my role as commanding officer is the interaction I have with my crew. My personal leadership style is to empower the crew to be forward-thinking, self-motivated, and solution-oriented, with the goal of working smart, not hard, wherever possible, but recognizing when there is no substitute for hard work and rising to occasions with vigor and zeal. I have to say, this particular group of sailors have adapted to my expectations with ease. They think ahead, understand the requirement of upcoming events, and work extremely hard to meet or exceed every goal that has been set. I think they’ve figured out that if you are meeting or exceeding your boss’s demands, it follows that you have more autonomy and freedom, which can sometimes translate into perks like having more time and input to your schedule. I have always believed time is a sailor’s most precious and treasured commodity, and access to more personal time is very potent motivator. When duty called and Lockheed Martin released the ship to the Navy, the sailors put their personal lives on hold, quickly embarked and immersed themselves immediately in the myriad details necessary to bring the ship to life. Of course, there were a few bumps along the road, but this crew has been steady and flexible, always working towards solutions for challenges that arose. They take pride in being the best. They practice, prepare, and perform at a expert level in each of their roles. Make no mistake, this a very competitive group of sailors who I am certain will continue to adapt and grow throughout their careers to maintain themselves as the cream of the crop. Most of the crew has been here for the entire ride, and what a journey it has been. I’m sure they sometimes wonder if this day would ever come. Through it all, these sailors rarely complained, and remain resolutely focused on the mission. Despite being deployed and separated from their families, anywhere from six to eight months, they certify each event ahead of schedule, where great ambassadors and multiple liberty ports. And despite the temptations that come with a brief home port visit in Jacksonville, they continue to work diligently and make all necessary final preparations to arrive here in Key West. I suppose it is only fitting that the crew has adopted some of the spirit of Billings, Montana, and that they are dedicated and steadfast. The crew, as well as the ship, has already proven they are the epitome of resilience, demonstrating how persistent work ethic will allow you to weather even an unexpected storm. When presented with unforeseen circumstances, challenges on the sail-around, it was some of her namesake’s spirit and fortitude that allow us to overcome. In fact, I would suggest that these are real American values at core, and as such, it is no surprise that the US Navy remained committed to maintaining its goals and was able to quickly adjust to changing circumstances and setbacks with minimal impact on the time of completion of sail-around and for preparation of the commissioning. Not only do we have a top-notch crew, but this is a pretty cool ship. You can imagine the experience involved with building an entire new fleet of ships, and thanks to our right to free speech, there has been considerable media attention to the question of whether we are getting our money’s worth with the final product. Having now commanded two Freedom-class LCS variants, I would like to report that these ships are truly impressive and will fit well in the niche they have been designed for. In addition to the sleek, and dare I say, sexy exterior, (audience laughing) they are fast, maneuverable, and their weapon systems are some of the most accurate I’ve witnessed on any platform on which I previously served. But those of you who were at the Wichita commissioning, I hope you will forgive my repetition here, but I find using an analogy was helpful in explaining the advantages of LCS to our non-military guests. Since the crowd is mostly civilian, I’ll start at the beginning with the most common question people ask about a littoral combat ship. What is it, and what does it do? Littoral combat ships are an entirely new category of warship. The ship has unique capabilities and in addition to the existing players, it’s critical to the Navy’s evolution towards the future of national defense. If you Google LCS, which I’m certain some of you did, you will read that the ship is agile, fast, and designed to defeat global challenges in the littoral environment. Most of us don’t use littoral in our daily vocabulary, but it basically means close to shore. United States Navy is world renowned partially because it has so many different types of ships. Obviously, each type of ship is best suited for different types of missions. My favorite analogy to make this more tangible is that most Navy vessels are comparable to desktop computers, whereas an LCS is more like a smartphone. No matter how far technology has come, there are still some tasks that really do require a desktop as a platform. A desktop has exponentially more storage capacity than a smartphone, like most Navy ships can transport far more equipment, personnel, and weapons than an LCS could. Similarly, an LCS would never have that in-your-face presence that most ships do. But sometimes you may want to get right up close to the adversary before they notice you. The LCS, like your favorite mobile device, offers more portability and maneuverability, and being much less conspicuous. And like a smartphone, the LCS packs an almost unbelievable amount of functionality into a very small product. Hear me when I say, this vessel we commission today is one of the most advanced ships in our fleet. Do not let the fact that this is a small and requires less manpower mislead you. This is a force to be reckoned with, and its smaller profile is just a reflection of its superior technology systems. Lastly, I wanna share the future plans for USS Billings. We have been designed as a mine countermeasure platform. We have already begun developing missions and protocols that future ships will conduct and adhere to. We will be testing very specialized equipment and exploring possibilities for collaboration as we transit home. Although we are primarily in Key West for today’s ceremony, the crew hasn’t wasted any opportunities to train and support, and this has been a working port for us. I truly believe this ship and the crew will become one of the Navy’s most valuable assets and we’ll always be on standby to answer the call to assist in the defense of our great country. I’m proud of the LCS program and its success in delivering this great ship, and even more proud of the crew that runs it. As you interact with the crew, and to our wonderful ship, I’m sure you will be equally as impressed. And for those of you who stuck with me in this heat, and are still paying attention, indulge me in one more round of thanks. To the city of Key West, thank you for sharing your corner of paradise with us. And to the Billings Commissioning Committee, and Key West Navy League, thank you for really stepping up to the plate with all the responsibilities incumbent on hosting and supporting a commissioning. In fact, let’s give everyone a last round of applause for coming here and making a small piece of US history as we celebrate the coming of age of USS Billings. Join me in wishing her fair winds and following seas. (audience applauding)
[Aaron] Ships company, atten-hut. Will the guest please rise? Chaplain Spurlock will now lead us in the benediction.
[Matthew] Let us pray. Heavenly Father, as we close this ceremony, we ask for your continual blessing upon the USS Billings, the command officers and crews that will sail this amazing vessel. Lead and guide them as they uphold the namesake of the state of Montana and the city of Billings, that their compassion and care for one another would reflect the image of vastness of the land and sky found in the city by which this namesake derives. And when the waters roar at our trouble, and when the big sky is thunderous and darkened, oh God, our refuge and strength, our very present help in trouble, I pray that your divine hand would shelter every soul aboard. Give them wisdom so they would serve with honor and integrity. May each of them acknowledge the protection you have provided in times past, and trust in your deliverance for the future. Now to the only wise God, our savior, be glory, majesty, dominion and power both now and ever, amen.
[Aaron] Thank you, Chaplain Spurlock.