U. S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) praised the work of the employees of Ingalls Shipbuilding who were involved in building the USS PORTER (DDG 78), the newest in a series of advanced Aegis guided missile destroyers built in Pascagoula, MS, for the United States Navy. Cochran delivered the principal address at the ship's commissioning in Port Canaveral, Florida.

"The crew of the PORTER has worked shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of the Ingalls Shipbuilding family, ensuring that the PORTER is ready to take her place on active duty in the U.S. Navy," Cochran said to the more than 4,000 guests assembled for the event.

Senator Cochran, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations panel on Defense, said, "The PORTER is the 28th Arleigh Burke class Destroyer, and the 12th to be built by Ingalls. There is no doubt that the reputation of Ingalls as the best shipbuilder in America will be enhanced by PORTER."

The Senator emphasized the importance of a strong U.S. Navy. He said, "Although changes in the world have significantly reduced the threat to our security from our enemies of the Cold War, the need for a strong Navy remains."

"U.S. warships must be able to support operations close to land, while maintaining the ability to defeat the enemy on the high seas," Cochran said. "USS PORTER reflects the Joint Inter-operability, multi-mission capabilities our ships must possess in order to respond to any threat, whether near land or on open sea."

The 505-foot, 8,850-ton destroyer, commanded by Commander Kenneth V. Spiro Jr., USN, is named to honor the distinguished naval service of Commodore David Porter and his son Vice Admiral David Dixon Porter. Garland Johnson, wife of U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jay L. Johnson, is the ship's sponsor.

In closing Cochran wished for Commander Spiro and the crew of the PORTER "a safe and successful cruise every time you put to sea."