Susan Ford Bales, President Ford’s daughter and ship’s sponsor, visited the shipyard in August 2010. Here she is pictured helping Newport News Shipbuilding Rigger Mike Jordan secure a lift. Photo by Ricky Thompson Post date September 2, 2020
Susan Ford Bales, President Ford’s daughter and ship’s sponsor, toured Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in August 2010 and participated in hands-on demonstrations, including a weapons elevator door installation, a large module unit transit to the dry dock and preparation of an air-conditioning unit. Photo by Ricky Thompson Post date September 2, 2020
Susan Ford Bales, President Ford’s daughter and ship’s sponsor, visited the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in October 2011 for an update on the construction progress. Bales helped erect and position a section of the ship’s main deck, connect instrumentation wiring and operate watertight doors. She also observed mechanized welding operations. Photo by Chris Oxley Post date September 2, 2020
Susan Ford Bales, President Ford’s daughter and ship’s sponsor, visited Newport News Shipbuilding in August 2010. Here she is pictured helping check the alignment of units in Dry Dock 12 along with shipbuilders Chris Evans and Dave Stokes. Photos by Ricky Thompson Post date September 2, 2020
Susan Ford Bales, President Ford’s daughter and ship’s sponsor, visited the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in October 2011 for an update on the construction progress. Bales helped erect and position a section of the ship’s main deck, connect instrumentation wiring and operate watertight doors. She also observed mechanized welding operations. Photo by Chris Oxley Post date September 2, 2020
Newport News Shipbuilding Structural Welder Robert Bowker displays the welded initials plate during the Nov. 14, 2009 keel laying ceremony for the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The initials SFB are those of Susan Ford Bales, the ship’s sponsor for the ship that will bear her father’s name. L-R: US Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, Susan Ford Bales, and Mike Petters, CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, the parent company of Newport News Shipbuilding. Photo by Chris Oxley Post date September 2, 2020
Nov 14, 2009 – Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, served as the ship’s sponsor and keel authenticator for the ceremony. Bales authenticated the keel by chalking her initials onto a metal plate. (Left to right) Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus; U.S. Senator Carl Levin, (D-Mich); Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, Adm. Kirkland Donald; Ship Sponsor Susan Ford Bales; and Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Mike Petters. Post date September 2, 2020