The Sponsors

The Secretary of the Navy is charged with designating Sponsors for all United States Navy Ships. Sponsors play a unique and important role for the Navy. As they christen their ships, bestowing upon the vessel a name chosen by the Secretary of the Navy, they become an integral part of that ship’s history. The Crew of the ship may change many times over the course of a ship’s life, but the Sponsor remains the same. The Sponsor will participate in as many of the ceremonial milestones in the life of the ship as possible and her experiences will be memorable.

A ship Sponsor, by tradition, is a female civilian who is invited to "sponsor" a vessel, presumably to bestow good luck and divine protection over the seagoing vessel and all that sail aboard. She is typically selected for her relationship to the Namesake or to the ship’s current mission. In the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard, the Sponsor is technically considered a permanent member of the ship's Crew and is expected to give a part of her personality to the ship, as well as advocate for its continued service and well-being.