Mark W. Thompson Attends USS Tulsa (LCS-16) Commissioning in San Francisco

On February 16, NOUS Northwest was well represented in San Francisco at the commissioning ceremony for USS Tulsa (LCS-16), the Navy’s newest surface combatant. Well done to Mark Thompson! Scroll down for some great photographs provided by him.

Mark W. Thompson (r) with John A. McKnight, Commander, NOUS San Francisco Commandery at the commissioning of USS Tulsa (LCS-16)

“The Independence-variant LCS is the Navy’s second ship to be named for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. ‘She truly is an amazing ship and an amazing addition to the fleet, but as impressive as she is, she would be nothing without the Sailors you see lining her deck this morning,’ said Cmdr. Drew Borovies, Tulsa’s commanding officer. ‘And as much as they have already accomplished, they know their true greatness lies ahead as Tulsa enters the fleet and stands ready to answer her nation’s call. They are the finest Sailors our Navy has to offer. They are tough, able and ready to take our nation’s newest warship to sea’.”

“Indeed, in little more than three years, the ship has progressed from its keel laying in Mobile, Alabama, to its commissioning. Kathy Taylor, ship’s sponsor and former Tulsa mayor, was present for both events and many in between.”

(Previous two paragraphs reproduced from Navy website, written by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Woody Paschall, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1 Public Affairs at https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=108634)

USS Tulsa Commissioning Ceremony Video Can be Accessed at http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2019/02/13/uss-tulsa-lcs-16-commissioning-ceremony/
Photo above from same Navy website

Many thanks to Mark for providing us with some great photography (below) of USS Tulsa (LCS-16), the commissioning ceremony and the beautiful surroundings in San Francisco.