Discussion on Renaming Navy Aircraft Carrier

Navy leadership is considering a name change for a Navy aircraft carrier in honor of President Donald Trump. This information comes from two U.S. officials. The current plan names the ship USS Doris Miller. This would honor an enlisted sailor who operated an anti-aircraft gun during the Pearl Harbor attack in World War II without having received formal training. Doris Miller, a mess attendant, managed to shoot down at least one Japanese plane and saved wounded U.S. sailors by bringing them to safety.

Miller became the first Black service member to receive the Navy Cross, which ranks as the Navy’s second-highest award. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz presented this award to Miller aboard the USS Enterprise in Pearl Harbor on May 27, 1942. The image is preserved in historical archives.

The suggestion to rename the aircraft carrier was first reported by CNN. The name USS Doris Miller would signify the first carrier named after a Black individual and an enlisted sailor. The decision to name the ship after Miller was made during Trump’s first presidency. Discussions to potentially change this name have been ongoing for a few months.

The Navy has not provided a comment regarding the name change possibility. Miller is being considered for the Medal of Honor, although White House approval is pending. Usually, destroyers bear the names of Medal of Honor recipients, whereas aircraft carriers typically honor presidents.

The authority to name ships resides with the Navy Secretary. However, the Defense Secretary is often involved in naming aircraft carriers. The final decision will rest with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.

The ship in question is part of the Ford-class, a series of advanced carriers. It may be among the first to feature a steam-based catapult launch system, as ordered by Trump, instead of the newer electromagnetic catapults.