Sailors assigned to the new USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, reflected on the milestone event in the ship's construction Dec. 7--a poignant day as the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Michael Leonard emphasized the importance of this moment in history. "There's a great deal of pride in taking a vessel from dry dock to active service, not to mention the gravity and honor [in] having the opportunity to impact the legacy of the USS John F. Kennedy," Leonard said.

Lt. Cmdr. Valerie Greenaway, who had an opportunity to stand under the keel prior to the flooding of the dry dock Oct. 1, emphasized the impact the ship builder has on constructing the future Ford-class aircraft carriers.

"The shipyard is creating this incredible body, but we are the group that will give it a soul and bring it to life," Greenway said. "This carrier will be an integral part of defending our nation and global interests. I never imagined that I would be a part of something with so much impact. To say that I am proud to be assigned to the future USS John F. Kennedy is an understatement."

Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician William Martel reflected on being a part of something much larger than himself.

"The life of the future USS John F. Kennedy will last five decades beyond its commissioning, and for me that gives me pride in knowing that I am a part of something bigger than myself," said Martel, who brings three separate shipyard tours of experience to the carrier.

Chief Information Systems Technician Yolanda Corro, who is one of 250 Sailors currently assigned to PCU John F. Kennedy checked into the command Sept. 30 and is honored to play a role in the christening ceremony.

"Being part of the PCU John F. Kennedy is an honor, and joining the Navy Dec. 7, 2004, 15 years on active duty, now celebrating the christening of this incredible ship, is a real honor for me," Corro said.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class Kristi Dennis emphasized the traditions her crew will set for future crews to follow.

"It's a great honor and humbling experience to not only create new traditions with PCU JFK but also know I am a part of carrying on the traditions of the Navy for many generations," Dennis said.

CVN 79 incorporates more than 23 new technologies, comprising dramatic advances in propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling, and aircraft launch systems. These innovations will support a 33 percent higher sortie generation rate at a significant cost savings, when compared to Nimitz-class carriers. The Gerald R. Ford-class also offers a reduction of approximately $4 billion per ship in life-cycle operations and support costs, compared to the earlier Nimitz class.

The new technology and warfighting capabilities that the John F. Kennedy brings to the fleet will transform naval warfare, supporting a more capable and lethal forward-deployed U.S. naval presence. In an era of great power competition, CVN 79 will serve as the most agile and lethal combat platform in the world, with improved systems that enhance interoperability among other platforms in the carrier strike group as well as with the naval forces of regional allies and partners.

President Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, christened the ship during a Huntington-Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) division ceremony in Newport News Dec. 7.

Ship sponsorship is among the most hallowed traditions of the U.S. Navy. Caroline is reprising her role as sponsor for the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). As a nine-year-old girl, Caroline broke the bottle of sparkling wine on the hull of the first USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in May 1967, which marked the beginning of the end of an era for conventionally powered aircraft carriers.