Navy sets commissioning date and site for future USS Cleveland (LCS 31)

The U.S. Navy plans to commission the future USS Cleveland (LCS 31) on May 16, a milestone that closes out construction of the final Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship after roughly 20 years of procurement and building with industry partners.

Robyn Modly, spouse of former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. In keeping with tradition, she is expected to deliver the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” as the commissioning pennant is raised and the vessel officially joins the fleet.

Cleveland will be based in Mayport, Florida, following the ceremony. As part of the Navy’s small-surface combatant portfolio, LCS ships are designed for speed and modular missions in coastal and blue-water environments, operating with joint and allied forces—manned and unmanned—to support presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence around the world.

The ship carries the motto “Forge a Legacy,” a nod to Cleveland’s industrial heritage and the resilience of its residents. Its crest incorporates an anvil and a red stripe to reference the city’s steelmaking past, and 16 sun rays to mark Cleveland as the 16th Freedom-class ship. It is the fourth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the Cleveland name. The crest was unveiled April 5 in a ceremony that brought together Cmdr. Bruce Hallett, Command Master Chief Carla Bellamy, the Cleveland Legacy Foundation, and active-duty service members, according to a Navy photo release.

The Navy says a livestream of the commissioning will begin at 9:45 a.m. EST, with the ceremony set for 10 a.m. EST on May 16, at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37601.

Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, which oversees the manning, training, and equipping of the surface force, said the event marks the latest addition to the fleet’s capability to control the seas and project power ashore. Additional information is available at https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/.