Future USS Cleveland Sailors Attend Commissioning Week Events

May 15, 2026 | By Navy Lt. j.g. Rachael Jones, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet |

Sailors assigned to the future USS Cleveland, the 16th and final Freedom-variant littoral combat ship to be built and commissioned for the Navy, arrived in their namesake city May 9 to launch a week of community engagement and celebration leading up to the ship's commissioning tomorrow.

Throughout the week, Cleveland sailors participated in a variety of community events including a Zach Bryan concert, the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation Community Day at North Coast Harbor, a NASA Glenn Research Center tour and visits to the Baseball Heritage Museum and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Cleveland sailors were also recognized on the court of downtown Cleveland's Rocket Arena during a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game and at a Cleveland City Council meeting on May 11.

"Honestly, being engaged with the community this week has been tremendously amazing," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Deja Jackson, a native of Cleveland and a hull maintenance technician assigned to the future USS Cleveland. "If we could do this every day, I'd be over the moon for the opportunity."

During commissioning week, the crew of the future USS Cleveland led ship tours for local students and community members. These guided tours provided a rare, firsthand look at one of the Navy's newest warships and an opportunity to interact directly with sailors.

"One of the greatest highlights of commissioning a U.S. Navy ship in its namesake city is seeing the crew and the community come together as one team," said Navy Cmdr. Bruce Hallett, commanding officer of the future USS Cleveland. "Our sailors are honored to welcome the people of Cleveland aboard for tours and to participate in events throughout the city during commissioning week. These engagements strengthen the bond between the ship and the community we proudly represent, while showcasing the dedication, professionalism and pride of the sailors who wear the name Cleveland on their uniforms."

The commissioning ceremony will be livestreamed online at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37601, beginning at 9:45 a.m. EST, and the ceremony starts at 10 a.m. EST tomorrow.

This is the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city of Cleveland. The first was a cruiser commissioned in 1903 that served during World War I. The second was the lead ship of its class of light cruisers, which earned 13 battle stars during World War II. The third was the amphibious transport dock, which served from 1967 to 2011, providing critical support during the Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield and Storm and various humanitarian missions.

Navy Announces Commissioning of the Future USS Cleveland

May 15, 2026 |

The Navy will commission its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Cleveland (LCS 31), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Honorable Hung Cao, acting Secretary of the Navy, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Additional speakers are set to include the Honorable Jon Husted, U.S. Senator from Ohio; the Honorable Shontel Brown, U.S. Representative from Ohio; the Honorable Justin Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio; Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; and Ms. Stephanie Hill, President Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin.

Robyn Modly, the wife of former acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, is the ship's sponsor. In keeping with Navy tradition, she will give the crew the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" With the hoisting of the colors and commissioning pennant, acting Secretary Cao will formally place the ship in active service.

LCS 31 is the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city of Cleveland. The first was a cruiser (C-19) commissioned in 1903 that served during World War I. The second was the lead ship of her class of light cruisers, USS Cleveland (CL-55), which earned 13 battle stars for its service during World War II. The third was the Austin-class amphibious transport dock, USS Cleveland (LPD 7), which served from 1967 to 2011, providing critical support during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and various humanitarian missions.

The LCS class consists of two variants, Freedom and Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom-variant team, the odd-numbered hulls, in Marinette, Wisconsin.

Following its commissioning, USS Cleveland will be homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

LCS are fast, agile, mission-focused warships designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st-century threats. It is a class of small surface combatants equipped to defeat challenges in the world's littorals. LCS can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multi-mission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.

The commissioning of USS Cleveland underscores the Navy's commitment to building America's Fleet of the Future. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally. That mission continues – and intensifies. We operate forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability delivery, and the Fleet of the Future is our answer.

The commissioning ceremony will stream on the Defense Video Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37601. The live stream will begin at 9:50 a.m. EDT, and the ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. EDT on May 16.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342.

439th Airlift Wing Airman Earns Academy Appointment Through LEAD Program

May 15, 2026 | By Timothy R Jensen, 439th Airlift Wing |

The dream of becoming an astronaut usually begins by looking at the stars, but for Air Force Senior Airman Kendall Cubero, the journey to the cockpit and beyond started with a pair of electrician's tools in his hands at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. 

Cubero, an electrician assigned to the electrical and environmental shop, 439th Maintenance Squadron, was recently selected for the highly competitive Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program, earning a coveted appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. The LEAD program allows unit commanders to nominate the top junior enlisted personnel for entry into the academy or its preparatory school. Unlike civilian applicants who require a congressional nomination, LEAD candidates rely on the endorsement of their chain of command. 

Cubero, a New Jersey native who moved to Massachusetts for an Air Reserve technician position, initially joined the Air Force to learn a trade and earn military tuition assistance benefits. However, the goal of becoming an officer was always lingering. 

"The big dream is becoming a pilot," Cubero said. "I remember seeing this program, but it was completely out of my mind until my wing leadership sent an email about it." 

Applying was a rigorous process and Cubero admitted he initially had doubts about his chances, noting that the academy only accepts about 1,000 students each year. 

"It was kind of like a coin toss," he said. "There are people from all over the country that are smarter than me, more athletic than me, just better than me in every single shape or form." 

Despite this humility, his unit recognized his potential early on. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Kirk, who supervises Cubero, saw his drive from day one. 

"Cubero has a great personality and is a highly motivated individual," Kirk said. "When he joined our shop, he hit the ground running and quickly became a key member of our team." 

To help Cubero reach his goal, Kirk ensured he had the backing he needed at the shop level to balance the mission with the demanding application requirements. 

"I tried to be a good mentor and assisted him to the best of my ability," he said. "I gave him ample time to navigate the long application process and pursue his dreams." 

Cubero's advice to other junior enlisted members aiming for similar heights is simple: start working hard the day you arrive. 

"You have to ask yourself what you need to change to get to that point," he said. "One of the things that helped was just setting up a meeting with my supervisor and building a plan to reach those goals." 

Looking ahead, Cubero plans to carry the lessons he learned as an enlisted maintainer into the officer ranks. He aims to emulate the "selfless leadership" modeled by his current commander. 

"Leadership is about serving those you are in command of and helping them advance their careers, just as my leadership did for me," Cubero said. "Because of them, I'm able to achieve heights I never thought possible. If I'm given a position of leadership in the future, that's exactly what I want to do to cultivate the next generation." 

As Cubero prepares to trade his tools for a cadet uniform, his journey serves as a reminder of the Air Force's foundational strength. The Air Force Reserve is ultimately about its people; airmen like Cubero who choose to serve, stay ready and bring lethality to the fight.