What:

The keel-laying ceremony for LCS 5, the future USS Milwaukee, will be held at Marinette Marine's shipyard. United States Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin will authenticate the keel.  Keel is generally the first part of a ship's hull to be constructed, and laying the keel is often marked with a ceremonial event. 

When:

Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011

Ceremony: 3:25 – 4:40 p.m.

Media availability: 4:25-4:40 p.m.

Media should arrive no later than 2:45 p.m. for registration, security clearance and set-up

Where:

Marinette Marine Corporation

1600 Ely Road

Marinette, Wis. 54143

*Check-in at main building lobby

Interview Opportunities:

Immediately following the keel-laying ceremony, there will be a brief media availability session with:

• United States Senator Herb Kohl;

• United States Navy Program Executive Office – Littoral Combat Ship Program Manager Captain Jeffrey Riedel;

• Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett;

• Vice President of littoral ship systems at Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems & Sensors business Joe North;

• Marinette Marine President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Goddard

Video/Photo:

Video and photo opportunities of key leadership and external shots of the LCS 5 keel will be available.

Background:

LCS 5, the future USS Milwaukee, is the third ship of the Freedom variant of the LCS program and the fifth in the class.

In addition to Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, the Lockheed Martin-led industry team for Milwaukee includes naval architect Gibbs & Cox as well as best-of-industry domestic and international companies.

The Lockheed Martin-led team designed and constructed the nation's first LCS, USS Freedom, which has sailed more than 55,000 nautical miles since its 2008 commissioning and is home ported in San Diego, Cali. The next ship being constructed at Marinette Marine – LCS 3, the future USS Fort Worth – is 96 percent complete. The future USS Milwaukee, LCS 5, began construction in August. These ships are part of an entirely new class of surface combatant ships designed to defeat growing littoral – or close-to-shore – threats and perform a variety of missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and humanitarian relief.

To Cover:

RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 26, to Keith Little at (202) 302-3735 or keith.little@lmco.com.

Requirements to Enter Shipyard:

Upon RSVP, please provide the names of individuals attending. For entry into the shipyard, Security will require a photo ID and press pass.

For additional information about Lockheed Martin, visit:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ms2/ and http://www.lmlcsteam.com