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Friday, September 19, 2014
BY LIEUTENANT CHAD MURPHY
Contributed to ENP
BATH, Maine – A 2007 Barker Central High School graduate and Barker native is serving aboard one of the Navy’s newest and most advanced ship, the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), which is currently under construction at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
Petty Officer 2nd Class John Kieffer is an electrician’s mate aboard the Zumwalt, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2016. Once the Zumwalt is commissioned, it will receive the familiar United States Ship (USS) designation and become USS Zumwalt.
Built with a stealth-like design intended to reduce the ship’s radar profile, the Zumwalt’s futuristic appearance seems fitting given that the ship’s commanding officer is Capt. James Kirk.
The ship has advanced technologies in every area – engines, power systems, weapons systems, shipboard electronics and sensors – making it one of the world’s most capable ships. When at sea, Zumwalt will perform a variety of missions including attacking targets on land with gunfire and cruise missiles, hunting and tracking submarines, airspace surveillance and support to special operations forces.
Longer than two football fields, the ship is 80 feet wide and weighs more than 15,000 long tons when fully loaded. Twin gas turbine engines can push the ship through the water at more than 30 knots. Zumwalt is named in honor of Adm. Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations, the Navy’s most senior uniformed officer, from 1970-1974.
Kieffer said it is an exciting time to be in the Navy, helping to build a crew and a ship from scratch, something he never expected to be doing just a couple years ago. He also said he is proud of the work he is doing to help commission and man one of the Navy’s newest ships. As a 25 year-old with numerous responsibilities, Kieffer said he is learning about himself as a leader, sailor and a person. “I’ve definitely matured a lot, and at a faster pace compared to some high school friends who haven’t gone anywhere,” said Kieffer. “Now I’m learning about the capabilities of a very complicated power plant. I want to stay on and keep training future sailors.”
“USS Zumwalt represents the beginning of another era of service for this great name,” said Kirk. “Just as Admiral Zumwalt helped shape our nation’s Navy as the 19th chief of naval operations, this ship will help shape the future of surface combatants. The sophisticated new technologies incorporated aboard this ship, combined with its multi-mission capabilities, will ensure it is a relevant and integral part of our battle force for years to come.”
Lieutenant Chad Murphy is a member of the Navy Office of Community Outreach.
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Contributed to ENP
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Petty Officer 2nd Class John Kieffer is an electrician’s mate aboard the
Zumwalt. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
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Petty Officer 2nd Class John Kieffer is an electrician’s mate aboard the Zumwalt, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2016. Once the Zumwalt is commissioned, it will receive the familiar United States Ship (USS) designation and become USS Zumwalt.
Built with a stealth-like design intended to reduce the ship’s radar profile, the Zumwalt’s futuristic appearance seems fitting given that the ship’s commanding officer is Capt. James Kirk.
The ship has advanced technologies in every area – engines, power systems, weapons systems, shipboard electronics and sensors – making it one of the world’s most capable ships. When at sea, Zumwalt will perform a variety of missions including attacking targets on land with gunfire and cruise missiles, hunting and tracking submarines, airspace surveillance and support to special operations forces.
Longer than two football fields, the ship is 80 feet wide and weighs more than 15,000 long tons when fully loaded. Twin gas turbine engines can push the ship through the water at more than 30 knots. Zumwalt is named in honor of Adm. Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations, the Navy’s most senior uniformed officer, from 1970-1974.
Kieffer said it is an exciting time to be in the Navy, helping to build a crew and a ship from scratch, something he never expected to be doing just a couple years ago. He also said he is proud of the work he is doing to help commission and man one of the Navy’s newest ships. As a 25 year-old with numerous responsibilities, Kieffer said he is learning about himself as a leader, sailor and a person. “I’ve definitely matured a lot, and at a faster pace compared to some high school friends who haven’t gone anywhere,” said Kieffer. “Now I’m learning about the capabilities of a very complicated power plant. I want to stay on and keep training future sailors.”
“USS Zumwalt represents the beginning of another era of service for this great name,” said Kirk. “Just as Admiral Zumwalt helped shape our nation’s Navy as the 19th chief of naval operations, this ship will help shape the future of surface combatants. The sophisticated new technologies incorporated aboard this ship, combined with its multi-mission capabilities, will ensure it is a relevant and integral part of our battle force for years to come.”
Lieutenant Chad Murphy is a member of the Navy Office of Community Outreach.
Send an email to news@eastniagarapost.com with "email update" in the subject line.
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