USS PAUL IGNATIUS
DDG 117
  
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The Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) is the 67th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship is named in honor of Paul Robert Ignatius who served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) under President Lyndon Johnson from 1967 to 1969.

October 20, 2015 The keel authentication ceremony for DDG 117 was held at Ingalls Operations shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

November 12, 2016 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Paul Ignatius was launched from a floating dry-dock and moored at Ingalls West Bank Yard South Wharf.

April 8, 2017 PCU Paul Ignatius was christened during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Ingalls West Bank in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Nancy Ignatius, the wife of the ship's namesake, served as sponsor of the ship. Cmdr. Robby D. Trotter is the prospective commanding officer.

October 18, 2018 The Paul Ignatius returned to Ingalls West Bank after underway for the first time to conduct Builder's (Alpha) trials; Underway for Bravo trials from Dec. 3-5; Underway for acceptance trials with the INSURV from Dec. 19-20.

February 22, 2019 U.S. Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS Paul Ignatius, during a short ceremony on board the ship, at Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf.

April 18, BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair was awarded a $23,9 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-19-C-2317) for the USS Paul Ignatius' Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed by May 2020.

June 7, PCU Paul Ignatius departed Bath, Maine, for the last time en route to its homeport of Mayport, Florida; Moored at Wharf C1 in Naval Station Mayport on June 13; Moved to Wharf D1, outboard the USS Farragut (DDG 99), on June 17; Underway on June 21.

June 24, The Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 4, Pier 9 on Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled port call; Returned home on June 29; Underway again on July 21.

July 22, DDG 117 moored at Berth 4, Pier 4 in Port Everglades, Fla., for a week-long port visit in preparation for its commissioning ceremony.

July 27, USS Paul Ignatius was commissioned during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Port Everglades.

July 31, The guided-missile destroyer moored at Wharf D1 on Naval Station Mayport; Moved to Wharf C1 on Aug. 26; Moved back to Wharf D1 on Aug. 29; Emergency sortied due to approaching Hurricane Dorian on Aug. 30; Moored at Wharf C2, outboard the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), on Sept. 6; Moved to Wharf B1 on Sept. 13; Underway again from Sept. 20-25.

October 11, USS Paul Ignatius departed homeport for Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT) at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) range, off Andros Island, Bahamas; Transited southbound, off the east coast of Great Abaco Island, on Oct. 12; Moored at Wharf B1 for a brief stop on Oct. 17.

October 19, The Paul Ignatius participated in a missile exercise (MISSILEX), while underway off the coast of Wallops Island, Virginia; Moored at Wharf C2 on Oct. 21; Moved to Wharf A2 on Oct. 24; Underway again from Nov. 5-6, Dec. ?-11 and Dec. 18-19.

January 14, 2020 USS Paul Ignatius moved from Alpha Wharf to Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport to offload ammo; Moved back to Wharf A2 on Jan. 15.

February 7, Cmdr. Lennard D. Cannon relieved Cmdr. Robby D. Trotter as CO of the DDG 117 during a change-of-command ceremony on Naval Station Mayport.

May 4, The Paul Ignatius moved from Alpha Wharf to Wharf C2 to onload ammunition; Moved back to Wharf A2 on May 5; Underway for sea trials from May 9-14; Underway again from May 20-25, May 2?-29 and July 22.

July 23, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf A2 on Naval Station Mayport for a brief stop; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk from July 24-29; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 6 from Aug. 3-5.

August 5, The Paul Ignatius moored at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for a two-day ammo onload; Returned home on Aug. 14; Underway again from Aug. 22-23.

September 7, The Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf A2 on Naval Station Mayport after a nine-day underway for testing in the Gulf of Mexico; Underway again from Sept. 14-19 and Oct. 30-31; Moved to Wharf C2 on Nov. 3; Moved to Wharf B2 on Nov. 6; Underway again on Nov. 13.

November 2?, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport; Moved to Wharf A2, outboard the USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), on Nov. 24; Moored at Wharf C2 after a day-long underway on Nov. 28; Moved to Wharf A2 on Nov. 30; Underway again from Dec. 7-?.

December 21, USS Paul Ignatius moored outboard the USS Delbert D. Black at Wharf A2 after a three-day underway for routine training; Underway again on Jan. 4; Moored at Wharf C2 on Jan. 8.?

January 16, 2021 The Paul Ignatius moored outboard the USS Delbert D. Black at Wharf A2 after a five-day underway in the Jacksonville Op. Area; Underway in support of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) CSG's COMPTUEX on Jan. 2?; Moored outboard the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) at Wharf B3 on Feb. 13.

February 18, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf F2 on Naval Station Mayport after a one-day underway in the Jacksonville Op. Area; Underway again on April ?; Moored at Wharf F1 on April 9; Moved to Wharf C2 on April 21; Moved to Wharf D1 on April 22; Underway again on May 1.

May 5, The Paul Ignatius conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188), while underway in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12), while underway off the northwest coast of Ireland, on May 13.

May 15, USS Paul Ignatius commenced its participation in NATO exercise Formidable Shield 2021, while underway off the western coast of Scotland; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS William McLean on May 22.

May 26, The Paul Ignatius fired an SM-3 Block IA missile that successfully intercepted a short-range Terrier Orion ballistic missile target, launched from the Hebrides Range, as part of At-Sea Demonstration; Launched another SM-3 missile on May 30; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) on May 31.

June 7, DDG 117 moored at Pier 2 on Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a two-day port call; Moored at Wharf F1 in Naval Station Mayport on June 18.

June 25, Cmdr. Jeffrey T. Servello relieved Cmdr. Lennard D. Cannon as the 3rd CO of Paul Ignatius during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

July 15, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf B3 on Naval Station Mayport after a five-day underway for routine training; Underway again on July 19; Moored at Wharf B1 on July 22; Underway again from July 27-28; Underway in support of the USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) full-ship shock trials, in the Jacksonville Op. Area, on Aug. ?.

August 9, The Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport; Underway again on Aug. 1?; Brief stop off the coast of Virginia Beach, to escort the USS San Francisco (SSN 711) en route to Charleston, S.C., on Aug. 16; Returned home on Aug. 23; Underway again fro Aug. 2?- Sept. 1 and Sept. 9.

September 13, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 5, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk; Underway in support of the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) ARG's Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise, off the coast of Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Sept. 20; Moored at Wharf F2 in Naval Station Mayport on Sept. 29.

January 6, 2022 Rear Adm. Brendan R. McLane, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic relieved of duty Cmdr. Jeffrey T. Servello due to a "loss of confidence in his ability to command." Cmdr. Eric E. Meyers assumed temporary command of the Paul Ignatius.

February 4, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf F2 on Naval Station Mayport after underway for sea trials, following a three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA); Underway again on Feb. 7; Moored at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for ammo onload from Feb. 14-18; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 5 on Naval Station Norfolk from Feb. 21-25.

March 11, Cmdr. Aaron S. Arky relieved Cmdr. Eric E. Meyers as commanding officer of the Paul Ignatius.

March 14, The Paul Ignatius commenced its participation in a Task Force Exercise (TFEX), in the Virginia Capes Op. Area, along with the USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103) and HMS Portland (F 79); Brief stop off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., on March 18 and 25th; Arrived off the coast of Virginia on March 30.

April ?, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Wharf C1 on Naval Station Mayport; Moved to Wharf F1 on April 4; Moved to Wharf C2 on April 22; Underway for a homeport change to Rota, Spain, on April 27; Moored at NATO Fuel Pier in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, from May 9-10.

May 14, The Paul Ignatius conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201), while underway off the north coast of Scotland; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea wth the RFA Tiderace (A137) on May 23; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Patuxent again, while underway in the northern North Sea, on May 27; Moored at Haakonsvern Naval Base, Norway, from May 28-31; Transited the Danish Straits southbound on June 2.

June 17, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 in its new homeport of Naval Station Rota; Moved to Berth 3, Pier 1 on July 25; Underway again on Aug. 1; Moored at Berth 3, Pier 1 for a brief stop on Aug. 3.

August 6, The Paul Ignatius transited the Dover Strait northbound on late Saturday afternoon; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea wth the USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195), while underway in the North Sea, on Aug. 7; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the RFA Tiderace (A137) on Aug. 15; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea wth the USNS Leroy Grumman, while underway in the Baltic Sea, on Aug. 19.

August 20, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Cruise Quay 24, Old City Harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, for a three-day liberty port visit; Participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) ARG and six Swedish Navy ships, while underway east of Bornholm Island, on Aug. 30; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) on Aug. 31.

September 4, The Paul Ignatius participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Kearsarge, USS Arlington (LPD 24), USS Gunson Hall (LSD 44), HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311), NRP Corte-Real (F332), HNoMS Maud (A530) and HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833), while underway east of Bornholm Island; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS William McLean on Sept. 10.

September 15, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 6, Central Terminal in Port of Riga, Latvia, for a three-day visit; Moored at French Quay in Port of Gdynia, Poland, for a brief stop to refuel on Sept. 26; Moored at Oliwskie Quay in Port of Gdansk, Poland, for a brief stop to refuel on Oct. 6; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS William McLean, while underway east of Bornholm Island, on Oct. 7.

October 18, USS Paul Ignatius transited the Great Belt Strait northbound; Transited the Dover Strait southbound on Oct. 20; Conducted operations off the coast of Normandy from Oct. 21-22; Moored at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota on Oct. 25; Underway again on Nov. 8; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea wth the USNS Leroy Grumman, while underway approximately 30 n.m. southwest of Portsmouth, England, on Nov. 12.

November 12, The Paul Ignatius moored at Jetty #1, Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport in Plymouth, on Saturday evening, for a two-day port call in support of the Royal Navy's Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST); Moored at C Buoy in Plymouth Sound from Nov. 16-17; Moored at Jetty #1 again from Nov. 18-20.

November 25, DDG 117 transited the Dover Strait northbound on early Friday; Transited the Skagerrak Strait eastbound on Nov. 26; Transited the Great Belt Strait southbound on late Saturday afternoon.

November 28, USS Paul Ignatius arrived off the coast of Finland to participate in NATO exercise Freezing Winds 22; Moored at Hernesaari Cruise Quay LHD in Port of Helsinki from Dec. 2-4; Moored at northern Scheer-Mole, Tirpitzhafen Naval Base in Kiel, Germany, from Dec. 8-11.

December 11, The Paul Ignatius transited the Great Belt Strait northbound; Transited the Skagerrak Strait westbound, just after midnight, on Dec. 12; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the RFA Tiderace, while underway in the English Channel, on Dec. 16.

December 19, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota following a four-and-a-half month patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet AoR.

December 20, The Paul Ignatius moved from Berth 2 to Berth 3, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota; Moved to Berth 1, Pier 1 on Jan. 5.

April 27, 2023 USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 1, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota, on Thursday evening, after a one-day underway for sea trials, following a four-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA); Moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 after a day-long underway on May 3; Moved to Berth 1/2, Pier 1, outboard the USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), on May 12; Moved back to Berth 2, Pier 1 for a brief stop before underway on May 16; Returned home on May 17.?

May 19, Cmdr. Corry W. Lougee relieved Cmdr. Aaron S. Arky as the 6th CO of Paul Ignatius during a change-of-command ceremony at Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota.

May 26, USS Paul Ignatius moored outboard the USS Roosevelt at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota after a four-day underway for routine training.

May 27, USS Paul Ignatius departed Rota for its second forward-deployed patrol.

May 30, The Paul Ignatius transited the Dover Strait northbound, on late Tuesday evening; Transited the Skagerrak Strait eastbound on June 1; Transited the Great Belt Strait southbound on Thursday afternoon.

June 3, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Cruise Quay 24, Old City Harbour in Tallinn, Estonia, for the in-port phase of annual multinational exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2023; Underway for at-sea phase on June 4; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) on June 5 and 11th; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the FGS Spessart (A1442) on June 14.

June 16, USS Paul Ignatius moored at southern Tirpitz-Mole, Tirpitzhafen Naval Base in Kiel, Germany, for a three-day port visit; Transited the Danish Straits westbound on June 23; Transited the Dover Strait southbound on June 24; Moored at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota from June 28-30.

June 30, The Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 3, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota after a brief underway in the Gulf of Cadiz; Underway again on July 8; Transited the Strait of Gibraltar eastbound on Saturday evening; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195), while underway in the Ionian Sea, on July 11; Transited the Strait of Otranto northbound on July 12.

July 13, The Paul Ignatius conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13), while underway in the southern Adriatic Sea; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Leroy Grumman on July 18; Moored at Berth 3, Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota on July 24; Resumed patrol on Aug. 15.

August 25, DDG 117 moored at Eastern Quay in Port of Agadir, Morocco, for a one-day visit in support of exercise Atlas Handshake 23-1; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota on Aug. 29; Underway again on Aug. 31; Transited the Dover Strait northbound on Sept. 3; Transited the Great Belt Strait southbound on Sept. 5.

September 5, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 60, Ro-Ro Terminal in Port of Rostock, Germany, for a two-day visit; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the FGS Spessart on Sept. 15; Moored at French Quay in Port of Gdynia, Poland, for a brief stop to refuel on Sept. 17.

September 29, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Quay 634, Frihamnen Port in Stockholm, Sweden, for a three-day liberty visit; Moored at Cruise Berth 14 in Port of Visby, Sweden, from Oct. 4-6; Transited the Dover Strait southbound on Oct. 11; Moored at Jetty #1, HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, England, in support of the Royal Navy's Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), from Oct. 13-16.

October 19, The Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota; Underway again on Oct. 22; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Everes (T-AKE 13), while underway in the eastern Mediterranean, on Oct. 26; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) on Nov. 3; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS William Mclean (T-AKE 12) on Nov. 21; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Medgar Evers on Nov. 24.

November 28, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 1/2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota following an extended six-month patrol.

February 8, 2024 USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota after a three-day underway for routine training.

February 26, USS Paul Ignatius departed Rota for its third forward-deployed patrol.

March 1, The Paul Ignatius transited the Dover Strait northbound in support of NATO's Steadfast Defender exercise series; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the RFA Tidespring (A136) on March 2 and 8th; Participated in a PHOTOEX with the HMS Prince of Wales (R09), HMS Portland (F 79), HDMS Niels Juel (F363), FS Amethyste (S605) and RFA Tidespring, while underway near Vestfjorden, Norway, on March ?; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea again on March 12.

March 13, USS Paul Ignatius participated in a PHOTOEX with the HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Portland, ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551), FS Normandie (D651), SPS Almirante Juan de Borbon (F 102), HNoMS Otto Sverdrup (F312), HNoMS Gnist (P965), RFA Mounts Bay (L3008), RFA Tidespring, FGS Bonn (A1413), HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833) and three Norwegian patrol vessels, while underway west of Lofoten archipelago, at the conclusion of exercise Nordic Response.

March 15, DDG 117 moored at Fagerneskaia Quay in Port of Narvik, Norway, for a three-day liberty visit; Moored at Berth 331, Ocean Quay Cruise Terminal in Port of Copenhagen, Denmark, from March 22-25; Transited the Oresund Strait northbound on March 25; Transited the Great Belt Strait southbound on Monday afternoon.

April 3, The Paul Ignatius moored at French Quay in Port of Gdynia, Poland, for a brief stop to refuel; Moored at French Quay again for a brief stop to refuel on April 9 and 16th; Transited the Great Belt Strait northbound on April 17; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota on April 22; Underway again on May 3; Inport Souda Bay from May 8-11.

May 11, The Paul Ignatius conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the FS Somme (A631), while underway off the coast of Crete; Moored at Berth K14 in Souda Bay from May 23-24; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) on May 31.

June 9, USS Paul Ignatius moored at West Quay in Port of Limassol, Cyprus, for a three-day liberty visit; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Patuxent on June 14; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the FS Somme on June 18.

July 14, USS Paul Ignatius moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota following a four-and-a-half month patrol.

July 22, The Paul Ignatius moved from Berth 2 to Berth 1, Pier 1 on Naval Station Rota.