DDG 131 ship sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelly Neal Gray, breaks the ceremonial bottle of champagne against the bow of the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), officially christening the U.S. Navy’s newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division July 11, 2026. From left: Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette, U.S. Representative for Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District Mike Ezell, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy William Toti, HII President and CEO Chris Kastner and DDG 131 Ship Sponsor Kelly Neal Gray.
DDG 131 ship sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelly Neal Gray, breaks the ceremonial bottle of champagne against the bow of the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), officially christening the U.S. Navy’s newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division July 11, 2026. From left: Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette, U.S. Representative for Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District Mike Ezell, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy William Toti, HII President and CEO Chris Kastner and DDG 131 Ship Sponsor Kelly Neal Gray.