ROCKLAND — The USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) will arrive in Rockland on Wednesday, July 31 to celebrate the 77th Maine Lobster Festival.

“The ship’s crew is excited to visit the historic town and its iconic event, first held in 1947 and a staple of the community ever since,” said the CNSL Public Affairs Officer, in a news release.

Adding to the festivities, they will host visitors on board their ship for a tour to show the community an insider’s view of a Navy warship.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to represent one of our country’s best warships in an environment where there is so much historical presence,” said Chief Warrant Officer Glenn Martin, the ship’s Tactical Cryptologic Warfare Officer.

“This is my second visit to Rockland’s historic Lobster Festival and I am very excited to experience it with the amazing ‘Trailblazers’ of the USS Delbert D. Black,” added the ship’s Command Master Chief, Keona Johnson.

Attending the Lobster Festival provides Sailors a chance to explore the historic town, meet and greet the local citizenry and enjoy some tasty, local treats while the ship is anchored off the coast. In port for the long weekend, they will also volunteer to work in the festival booths; march in the parade; take part in the 5K and 10K races; chat with reporters; visit with veterans and the American Legion.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying all the great lobster dishes that the festival is renowned for in the beautiful town of Rockland, Maine,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Luke Swire, the ship’s reigning Sailor of the Year.

“Visits like these remind Sailors of the honor it is to serve their great nation during a trip with a dual mission: to learn about Rockport and Maine and the proud folks who live there, while showing off their ship and the professional Sailors who proudly serve aboard,” said the release.

“We’re honored to participate in this year’s Maine Lobster Festival and host tours aboard,” said Cmdr. Jeremiah M. Chase, the ship’s captain.

“I thank Rockland for welcoming us into your beautiful community,” he continued. “The Trailblazers onboard epitomize the core values of the U.S. Navy and I’m thrilled to show off this amazing ship and crew at the festival.”

An Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer, USS Delbert D. Black is stationed in Mayport, Florida. She is the first ship to be named after the first ever Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Delbert D. Black. He was a true “trailblazer” who fought for bettering the lives of junior Sailors and promoting leadership at all levels of the organization. The term “trailblazer” is still emphasized onboard in his honor. The destroyer is one of the newest operational warships in the U.S. Navy. The keel was laid on June 1, 2016 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was launched Sept. 8, 2017, and commissioned Sept. 26, 2020.

The crew departed on the ship’s maiden deployment in August 2022 to the 5th and 6th fleet area of operations where the crew participated in forward presence operations and provided stability in the region. The following year, the crew surge-deployed December 2023 to the Eastern Mediterranean to ensure maritime security in response to the Israel-Hamas Conflict. Most recently, DDG 119 was deployed May and June 2024 for Maritime Homeland Defense operations.

The ship is designed to operate in a forward presence status providing ballistic missile defense, strike, anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine capabilities to any area where the ship is deployed.

-CNSL-

For more USS Delbert D. Black information, visit https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/ddg119/

To keep up with the latest news from USS Delbert D. Black, visit USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) Facebook

Cmdr. Jeremiah M. Chase, Commanding Officer: https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/Leadership/All-Leadership/Article/3783030/commanding-officer-uss-delbert-d-black-ddg-119/

About the ship’s namesake, Delbert D. Black: https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Operational-Forces/Destroyers/USS-Delbert-D-Black-DDG-119/About-Us/Namesake/

For more Navy information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.