The newest U.S. Navy ship built at the NASSCO ship yard was christened Saturday morning. USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. ESB 8 is the final ship in the expeditionary sea base program.
It will not be part of the current war in Iran because it still must undergo extensive sea worthy testing before the Navy takes control. The christening comes at an especially relevant moment.
“We live in a dangerous, complex and rapidly changing world. The news in the last week just amplifies this,” said Vice Admiral John Wade, Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet. He was one of several military leaders who spoke from the podium at the ceremony.
The media was kept at a distance. Reporters were not allowed to ask questions about the current war in the Middle East.
The daughter and granddaughter of the late U.S. Marine Hector A. Cafferata, Jr are sponsors of the 90,000 ton vessel that will carry marine troops and other special operations teams including the Navy Seals.
“Dad was just dad to me. But, I knew there was something special about him. There isn’t anything I ever thought he couldn’t do,” Heather Cafferata told the crowd. Her father earned the Medal of Honor during the Chosin Reservoir campaign of 1950 in the Korean War. He survived severe injuries while diverting an enemy grenade and saving the lives of fellow marines.
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Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Kohlmann (at podium), represented the Trump Administration at Saturday’s ceremony, March 7, 2026.
Benjamin Kohlmann represented the Trump Administration. He is the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
“The Secretary of the Navy is counting on you to execute the president’s vision for a dominant Naval force. Our nation is going to build a golden fleet powered by a revitalized American industrial base,” Kohlmann said.
In December, President Trump held a news conference to announce plans for his Trump Class Golden Fleet of ships. He said the ships would be 100-times more powerful than any current Navy ship. Trump did not give a time line or source of funding for his Golden Fleet.
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This is a photo provided by General Dynamics NASSCO. It was taken November 27, 2024, in the second year of construction.
“He was larger than life and the ship is too,” Jessica Cafferata told NBC 7 after she and her aunt christened the ship. “I was able to tour it yesterday. You can’t realize the enormity of it and the strength of it until you’re inside it. Grandpa was the same,” she said.