U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said July 31 that the Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works (BIW) the contract to build the next DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. This new ship, the DDG-148, will be named after Kyle Carpenter – the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.

The Secretary of the Navy John Phelan called Senator Collins to notify her of the award. The award underscores BIW’s role as an essential shipyard for the Navy and a pillar of America’s defense industry, according to a news release from Sen. Collins' office. 

The DDG-51 funding was secured by Senator Collins in the Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 appropriations spending packages. BIW then competed to receive this contract, the release said.

“This award is a testament to the highly skilled and hard-working men and women of BIW and once again shows that ‘Bath Built is Best Built’” said Collins, in the release. “This destroyer will enhance our national security, protect good-paying Maine jobs, and provide long-term stability for the highly skilled men and women at BIW. As global threats continue to grow, investing in a strong and capable Navy is more important than ever.”

Corporal Kyle Carpenter received the Medal of Honor in 2014 after heroically shielding a fellow Marine from a grenade blast in Afghanistan in 2010. Despite suffering life-threatening injuries, including the loss of his right eye and extensive surgeries, he made an extraordinary recovery. He later earned his college degree, wrote a memoir titled You Are Worth It, and became a motivational speaker. Corporal Carpenter continues to inspire others through his message of resilience, service, and sacrifice, the release said.