USNS Navajo

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USNS is the designation given to non-commissioned ships of the United States Navy. Although these ships are considered part of the Navy's Fleet, they are auxilliary support ships and deal primarily in the transporting supplies and providing material. Operated by the Military Sealift Command, these ships are commanded by a Ship's master and crewed by civilian mariners rather than Navy personnel. Depending on the practices of the builder's yard, the christening is often conducted in conjunction with the ship's launch. 

The USNS Navajo will be the lead ship in the Navy’s new class of towing, salvage and rescue vessels. As an open ocean towing vessel, it will additionally support salvage operations and submarine rescue missions. The three T-ATF 166 and two T-ARS 50 class ships, which are expected to reach the end of their service lives in 2020, will be replaced by the new Navajo-class ships.  

  Scheduled for Spring 2023. Ship Sponsor and Navajo Veterans Advisory Council currently coordinating lives stream sites across the Navajo Nation for Veterans, their families, and community members to watch the limited event in real time. Awaiting dates from US Navy and ship manufacturers. Thanks to our current partners: Navajo Nation Museum, Navajo Technical University, Tuba City Local Governance, Dine College,  Chinle Unified School District and .  

   October 2019 the Keel Laying Ceremony of the USNS Navajo was conducted in Houma, LA. The laying of the keel is the formal recognition of a start of a ship’s construction.   

 As a DoD formality, the Navajo Nation received nominations for a Ship Sponsor, a civilian woman responsible for keeping the ship namesake alive. Multiple nominations were received, vetted, and interviews were conducted before the Navajo Nation made their recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. Secretary Richard Spencer made the final selection of Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw. Role and efforts are voluntary and unbudgeted.  

From 2018 to 2019, the NN Speaker’s Office (23rd and 24th Navajo Nation Councils) completed the requirements for the U.S. Navy. March 2019, the DoD announced the new T-ATS 6 would replace the four ATF Powhatan and four Safeguard class ships that were being decommissioned. Ship crest contributors include LaShawna Tso and Council Delegate Carl Slater.

Former Council Delegate, Jonathan Hale (23rd NNC), sponsored the legislation with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Speaker’s Office and support of the five agency Commanders, the legislation successfully went through oversight,  Nabikiyati committees, and Office of the Navajo Nation President & Vice President.

Dec. 2016 Senator John McCain sent the initial correspondence to the U.S. Navy requesting the new fleet of Ocean Tugs (T-ATS 6) be named after the Navajo and other Native American Tribes that contributed to the U.S. Armed Forces. The correspondence was then presented to the Navajo Nation for consideration.  (Photo credit: Marine Corps TImes)