City councilman Gutierrez attends christening of the USS Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez is in Mobile, Alabama this weekend for the christening of the US Navy's newest ship: the USS Santa Barbara.

It is the third ship named in honor of the city of Santa Barbara.

Gutierrez serves as the city's Mayor Pro-tempore. Mayor Cathy Murillo was unable to attend.

Gutierrez spoke before leaving for the ceremony saying he was honored to represent the city and will be speaking at the ceremony on behalf of Santa Barbara. He said he plans to make connections with the crew and Navy leadership in anticipation of the Littoral Combat Ship coming to local waters in 2022.

Santa Barbara has a rich history with the Navy and recalled the attacks on the U.S. mainland on the Santa Barbara/Goleta coast during World War II and the efforts of the Navy to protect our waters, Gutierrez says.

The ceremony for the USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32), will take place Saturday.

The Navy says Honorable Meredith Berger, who is performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony. Remarks will also be provided by Vice Adm. Jeffrey Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare and Rusty Murdaugh, President of Austal, USA. 

Lolita Zinke, wife of former Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke and the ship’s sponsor, will participate in the time-honored Navy tradition to christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

For more specifics about the vessel, click here.