LCS 20 commissioning in Gulfport

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Navy has approved an Oct. 5 commissioning date in Gulfport, Miss., for the future Littoral Combat Ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20). Commissioning signifies the acceptance for service and the entrance of a ship into the active fleet. Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, a Chicago billionaire appointed by President Obama, is the ship's sponsor. As sponsor, she leads the time-honored Navy tradition of giving the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” At that moment, the commissioning pennant is hoisted and Cincinnati becomes a ship of the fleet. Indianapolis, Ind., native Cmdr. Kurt Braeckel is the commanding officer of LCS 20. Cincinnati is an Independence variant LCS built at Austal USA shipyards in Mobile, Ala. The ship will be homeported at Naval Base San Diego. (Source: U.S. Pacific Fleet 07/25/19)