USS Ted Stevens update: ship near completion; captain requests Alaska commissioning site, fundraising target set

The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs received an update on the future USS Ted Stevens on April 1, 2025. Sherry Curry, president of the USS Ted Stevens Commissioning Committee, and Lily Stevens Becker, daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and secretary of the commissioning committee, briefed the committee alongside Capt. Mary Katie Hayes, the ship’s prospective commanding officer. Capt. Hayes said the ship is afloat, major equipment has been installed and shipbuilders have begun engine start and initial testing; she requested approval for a commissioning ceremony in Alaska, a request that is pending with the secretary of the Navy.

Capt. Mary Katie Hayes described the ship as an Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer equipped with an upgraded SPY-6 radar and associated Aegis Combat System improvements. She said shipbuilders recently started the ship’s main engines for the first time, that the shipyard has moved from construction to testing and sea trials, and that testing is projected to continue through the fall and include several at-sea periods. The commanding officer said the crew currently numbers about 150 sailors, with roughly 200 more expected to join before commissioning.

Lily Stevens Becker spoke about her father’s legacy and the family’s involvement as ship sponsors. Sherry Curry outlined the commissioning committee’s role: the committee organizes a weeklong series of community events that surround a commissioning ceremony, including receptions, crew-focused activities and public ship tours. Curry said the Navy itself approves the commissioning site and handles the ceremony day protocol; the community committee raises funds, coordinates logistics and supports crew needs.

Representative Hall asked whether the committee had completed an economic impact analysis for the commissioning week; Curry said one had not yet been done because final port stops were not confirmed. Curry provided the committee’s current fundraising estimate of approximately $1,000,000 to support commissioning-week events and a proposed ship endowment to help sailors’ families with emergencies. She said the commission would be careful with funds and cited prior practice returning unspent appropriations in other commissionings.

Committee members asked about timing and ceremonies. A representative confirmed the committee’s understanding that commissioning is projected for summer 2026. Capt. Hayes said she has submitted a request to the secretary of the Navy to hold the commissioning in Alaska and expects a decision in the coming months. Curry described possible Alaska port visits that could include Whittier, Juneau and Kodiak and said the committee has about 80 members across subcommittees for fundraising, events, public affairs and logistics.

Why it matters: A commissioning week typically brings sailors, families and visitors to host communities and can produce local economic activity and civic engagement. The committee’s briefing indicated the ship is entering testing and the local organizing group is preparing fundraising, travel and community programming while awaiting formal Navy approval for an Alaska commissioning.