Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus yesterday said the next Zumwalt-class destroyer, designated DDG-1002, will be named the USS Lyndon B. Johnson.
The selection continues the Navy tradition of naming ships after presidents and honors the 36th president.
A Texas congressman, Johnson was the first member of Congress to enlist in the military following the start of World War II. After his naval service, Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948, where he served as both minority and majority leader before being elected vice president Nov. 8, 1960.Following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination Nov. 22 1963, Johnson succeeded to the presidency, finished the remaining term, and was reelected for a full term as president.
USS Lyndon B. Johnson will be the third Zumwalt-class destroyer. Construction began on the ship at General Dynamics [GD]-Bath Iron Works April 4 and is expected to be delivered to the Navy in fiscal year 2018.