USS Miguel Keith Formally Joins Naval Fleet

USS Miguel Keith, an expeditionary sea base ship, is now in active service following a Navy commissioning ceremony held at Naval Air Station North Island.

The ship is named in honor of Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient Lance Cpl. Miguel Keith, a Vietnam war hero.

Capt. Troy Fendrick has been designated as USS Miguel Keith’s commanding officer, Navy .mil reported Monday. In a statement, Fendrick assured that the ship is ready to join the surface fleet.   

Acting Navy Undersecretary James Geurts welcomed the commissioning of USS Miguel Keith. According to Geurts, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker and one-time Wash100 winner, the addition of the ship to the fleet coincides with the retooling of the naval force.

“This ship joins that force, as we look to the future. We are going to ask a lot of this ship. We are going to ask a lot of this crew. I am confident that they are up for the charge,” Geurts said at the ceremony. 

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, commanding general of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, was also present at the event. Heckl commended the ship’s motto, “Semper In Pugna,” which translates to “Always in the Fight.” 

USS Miguel Keith is the third ESB variant of the Expeditionary Transfer Dock platform. The ship supports four core capabilities: aviation, berthing, equipment staging area, and command and control.