Senator Collins Speaks at Christening of Future USS William Charette at BIW

Click HERE , HERE , HERE , HERE , and HERE for individual photos. BATH, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at the christening ceremony for the future USS William Charette (DDG-130) at Bath Iron Works (BIW). Senator Collins was joined at the event by Governor Janet Mills, Senator Angus King, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, BIW President Chuck Krugh, and members of the Charette family. The future USS William Charette, built at Bath Iron Works, was christened in honor of Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Charette. During the Korean War, then-Hospital Corpsman Third Class Charette repeatedly braved enemy fire to treat wounded Marines. When an enemy grenade landed near a Marine he was aiding, Charette shielded him with his own body, and despite suffering his own wounds, continued treating casualties. His actions, which were directly responsible for saving the lives of many American service members, earned him the Medal of Honor. “Today we christen the DDG-130 with the name of a Medal of Honor recipient who exemplified the highest ideals of America and the United States Navy. Through this ship, his courage, humility, and devotion to others will continue to inspire generations of sailors,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “Arleigh Burke-class destroyers form the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet. To the men and women of Bath Iron Works, you make ‘Bath Built is Best Built’ not just a slogan, but a way of life. As global threats continue to grow and our adversaries continue to expand their naval fleets, investing in a strong and capable United States Navy and a robust defense manufacturing base here at home is essential.” Senator Collins has long championed Bath Iron Works and its skilled shipbuilders. Since 2020, she has secured more than $10.9 billion in Navy contract obligations related to DDG-51 destroyers and advocated for more than $3 billion in advance procurement funding to support long-lead materials and future production. These efforts build on the $16 billion she secured for Bath-built destroyers between 2008 and 2020. She has also secured more than $1 billion for shipyard infrastructure improvements, including modernization projects at BIW, as well as $200 million for wage enhancements and more than $34 million for BIW workforce initiatives. The workforce funding supports expanded training and assistance with housing, child care, and transportation. ###