The vessel is named in honor of Jeremiah Denton Jr., a former U.S. Senator and Vietnam War veteran, who served as a naval aviator for 34 years. Captured during the war, Denton spent eight years as a prisoner of war and was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in captivity, including his use of Morse code through eye blinks during a televised interview to signal the word “torture.” He later represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate after retiring from military service.
The christening ceremony featured remarks from Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Brett Seidle. Both underscored the symbolic and operational significance of the ship, linking its namesake’s legacy to the ongoing role of the U.S. Navy in global security.
The ship was formally christened by Denton’s daughters, Madeleine Denton Doak and Mary Denton Lewis, who served as co-sponsors. In her speech, Doak acknowledged the contributions of the Mississippi-based shipbuilding workforce and reflected on her parents’ ties to the region.
Equipped with the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System, Flight III destroyers represent a major technological upgrade aimed at addressing evolving threats. The Jeremiah Denton is one of five Flight III ships currently under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding, alongside the Ted Stevens (DDG 128), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133), and Thad Cochran (DDG 135). The first ship in the Flight III class, the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), was delivered in June 2023.ü