U.S. Navy set to christen the future USS William Charette

The U.S. Navy plans to christen the Arleigh Burke–class destroyer DDG 130 at a ceremony in Maine, honoring Korean War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao will deliver the principal address. “Serving as the shield of the Fleet, protecting the Carrier Strike Group from air and missile threats and maintaining open sea lanes for maritime commerce— this premier surface combatant will be a cornerstone of America’s new Golden Fleet,” said Cao. “But this warship will carry more than just advanced technology, she will also set sail bearing the legacy of Master Chief Petty Officer William Charette, whose heroic actions represent the very best of our naval service. His spirit of self-sacrifice is now permanently woven into the steel of this warship, becoming a part of the ship’s culture and soul as she sails forth to defend our homeland.”

The lineup of speakers reflects the event’s Maine setting and industrial roots, with remarks expected from Gov. Janet Mills; U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King; Rear Adm. Matthew Case, the acting Navy surgeon general and acting chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; Medal of Honor recipient Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr.; Michael Charette, the sailor’s son; and Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.

In keeping with Navy tradition, ship sponsor Kathryn Charette Donovan, the namesake’s daughter, will christen the ship by breaking bottles of sparkling wine across the bow. She will do so on behalf of her sisters and co-sponsors, Margaret Ann Henderson and Laura Charette Bennett, who cannot attend. Donovan will be joined by Michelle Charette and Sara Charette Wright, granddaughters of the namesake, serving as Maid and Matron of Honor.

DDG 130 commemorates Charette’s extraordinary valor during the March 27, 1953 battle for Outpost Vegas, when he repeatedly braved intense enemy fire to treat wounded Marines. After throwing himself onto a grenade to shield a casualty—an act that knocked him unconscious and left him wounded—he resumed lifesaving care despite losing his medical kit, improvising bandages from his own uniform.

Arleigh Burke–class destroyers form the core of the Navy’s surface combatant force, built for multi-mission operations across air, surface, and subsurface domains. The service says platforms like DDG 130 are central to deterring conflict, protecting global commerce, and supporting U.S. security commitments.

Navy leaders are framing the christening as part of a broader push to field a more capable “Golden Fleet,” tying today’s investments to 250 years of continuous maritime presence and the demand for a modernized, forward-deployed force.

The Navy plans to livestream the ceremony, and additional information about the Arleigh Burke class is available through official Navy channels.