GDBIW Christens Future USS William Charette (DDG 130)

August 03, 2026

BATH, Maine – General Dynamics Bath Iron Works christened the U.S. Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer, the future USS William Charette (DDG 130) today, Aug. 1. Bath Iron Works’ second Flight III destroyer, and the 43rd Arleigh Burke destroyer built at the Maine shipyard, is named for Mast Chief Hospital Corpsman William Charette, a career Sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War.

The Saturday morning christening ceremony took place in the dry dock of Bath Iron Works’ shipyard. Speakers included Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Angus King, Acting Sec. of the Navy Hung Cao, retired Col. Harvey C. Barnum, representing the Medal of Honor Society, Michael Charette, son of the ship’s namesake, and Rear Adm. Matthew Case, Acting Navy Surgeon General and Acting Chief, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.The ship’s sponsors are M. Ann Henderson, Kathryn (Kati) Charette Donovan and Laura Charette Bennett, the namesake’s daughters.

Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, welcomed the 1,500 shipbuilders, family members and invited guests, describing how Charette’s bravery and life of service inspire their work.

“When DDG 130, the future William Charette, joins the U.S. Fleet, it will sail with the motto ‘Valor in Service’—a fitting tribute to its namesake’s heroism in Korea and his two decades of commitment to the U.S. Navy,” Krugh said. “It will also sail with the promise that Bath Built is Best Built—when our Navy’s sailors take this ship into harm’s way to protect our country and our families, they deserve our best.”

In addition to William Charette, Bath Iron Works currently has under construction the Flight III ships Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), Quentin Walsh (DDG 132), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134), Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136), J. William Middendorf (DDG 138) and Thomas G. Kelley (DDG 140).

General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services.

Source : General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GDBIW)