Keel Laid for Future USS Philadelphia

The ship is named in honor of the historic city of Philadelphia and its maritime legacy.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The keel for the future USS Philadelphia (LPD 32), a San Antonio class-amphibious transport dock ship, was authenticated at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Mississippi on March 3, 2026. The ship is named after the historic city of Philadelphia, which is the birthplace of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and was home to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

Why it matters

The keel laying ceremony marks a significant construction milestone for the future USS Philadelphia, as the ship transitions from design to reality. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.

The details

During the ceremony, the initials of the ship's sponsor, Ms. Maureen Paparo, were welded onto a steel plate that will be permanently affixed to the ship's hull, remaining with the vessel throughout its entire service life as a symbol of its beginning. Paparo is a Philadelphia native and the spouse of Adm. Samuel Paparo, the 27th Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

  • The keel for the future USS Philadelphia (LPD 32) was authenticated on March 3, 2026.

The players

Maureen Paparo

The sponsor for LPD 32, Philadelphia, and the wife of Adm. Samuel Paparo, the 27th Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Cory Dillon

An Ingalls Structural Welder who welded the sponsor's initials onto the keel plate.

Brian Blanchette

The President of Ingalls Shipbuilding and Executive Vice President at HII.

Chris Kastner

The President and CEO of HII.

Captain Randy Slaff

The Commanding Officer of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Gulf Coast.

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What they’re saying

“The future USS Philadelphia honors one of America's foundational cities and its continuous support of the Navy and the maritime domain.”

— Captain Matthew Tardy, Program Manager, Amphibious Warfare Program Office

What’s next

The Navy will continue the construction of the future USS Philadelphia, with the goal of delivering the ship to the fleet in the coming years.

The takeaway

The keel laying ceremony for the future USS Philadelphia marks an important milestone in the ship's construction, honoring the historic city of Philadelphia's legacy of supporting the U.S. Navy and maritime domain. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships will provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms for a variety of missions.