USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)

08/22/2026

Remembering August 21, 2017

On August 21, 2017, the USS John S. McCain was involved in a collision off the coast of Singapore—a day that forever changed our ship and the lives of those who served aboard her.

Today, we pause to remember the 10 Sailors who lost their lives: our shipmates, friends, and brothers. Their sacrifice and the impact they had on the McCain family will never be forgotten.

Chief Electronics Technician Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Missouri

Chief Interior Communications Electrician Abraham Lopez, 39, from Texas

Electronics Technician 1st Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Maryland

Information Systems Technician 1st Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from New York

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Ohio

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr., 23, from Maryland

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Aaron Smith, 22, from New Jersey

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Connecticut

Electronics Technician 2nd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Texas

Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Illinois

We also honor the Sailors who were injured, the families who stood beside their loved ones, and every Sailor who responded with courage, strength, and compassion in the aftermath.

The name John S. McCain represents service, sacrifice, resilience, and a commitment to something greater than oneself. We carry that legacy forward every day—not only by remembering those we lost, but by striving to be better Sailors, better shipmates, and better leaders.

We remember. We honor. We carry the watch forward.

08/21/2026

Work Hard, Play Hard ⚓🥧

The USS John S. McCain knows how to work hard—and play hard!

Our Command Picnic was a fantastic day filled with food, laughter, friendly department-vs-department rivalry, and plenty of team spirit. From cheering on our shipmates to the highly anticipated Pie in the Face fund raiser, everyone came ready to compete, have fun, and make some great memories. 🥧😂

Days like this are a great reminder that while we take our mission seriously, we also know the importance of taking time to celebrate the people who make it all happen. Strong teams are built not only through hard work and dedication, but through camaraderie, connection, and a little friendly competition!

Work hard. Play hard. Take care of your shipmates. ⚓

Thank you to everyone who made the Command Picnic such a memorable day. McCain Strong! 💪🇺🇸

03/19/2026

Today we recognize the incredible dedication and professionalism of the Operations Department aboard the USS John S. McCain.

Through long hours, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, this team has played a vital role in restoring the ship to full fighting condition—ready once again to serve and defend with strength and precision.

Your hard work behind the scenes ensures mission readiness and keeps the fleet moving forward. The pride, teamwork, and determination you’ve demonstrated do not go unnoticed.

Congratulations on this outstanding effort, and thank you for your continued service and sacrifice.

Photos taken by Ensign Fransisco Morales and Ensign Kade Johansen

03/04/2026

What an incredible night at the USS John S. McCain Command Party! 🤠✨

Our Velvet Rodeo theme brought the perfect mix of country flair and classy style — boots, velvet, and great company made it a night to remember. From the decorations to the music and everything in between, the energy was outstanding and the camaraderie even better.

A huge thank you to our amazing Morale Welfare and Recreation team for putting together such a fantastic event. Your hard work and attention to detail made this celebration a true success for our crew and families.

We’re proud of this team and grateful for opportunities to come together, unwind, and celebrate. Already looking forward to the next one! ⚓🎉

02/23/2026

⚓ Mission Accomplished: Big Bad John is Back at Sea! ⚓
The USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) has officially cleared the pier and successfully completed its undocking! 🌊

After a period of hard work, maintenance, and dedicated effort from the crew and shipyard teams, the "Big Bad John" is back where she belongs—in the water. This milestone marks a major step toward returning to full operational readiness and continuing her mission to protect and serve.

A huge shoutout to the Sailors and civilians who put in the long hours to make this happen. Your grit and precision keep the fleet moving!

Video Taken by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jose Zuniga

02/07/2026

We are pleased to announce the success of our inaugural Town Hall meeting and extend our gratitude to all attendees. The event showcased services available to crew families, including Fleet and Family and Navy Marine Corps Relief Society support, as well as an introduction to the Big Bad John leadership team. Families had the opportunity to gain insight into the ship's schedule and life on and off the John S. McCain from our Ombudsman, Chaplain, Command Master Chief, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer, Commander David Ingel. We anticipate a successful next Town Hall meeting and look forward to welcoming both returning attendees and new faces.



Photos taken by Lieutenant Commander Norman Jones.

02/02/2026

The Sailors of the Big Bad John continue to demonstrate exceptional professionalism. Congratulations are in order for the following individuals on their well-deserved promotions, recognizing their outstanding leadership and commitment to the John S. McCain.

Operation Specialist Petty Officer First Class Gabriel Dupuy, effective December 16th, 2025

Fire Controlman Aegis Petty Officer First Class David Ho**er, effective December 16th, 2025

Operation Specialist Petty Officer Third Class Sophia Pennington, effective January 13th, 2026

Gunner’s Mate Petty Officer Third Class Jackson Lockhart, effective January 13th, 2026

Quartermaster Petty Officer Third Class Sebastian Solis, effective January 13th, 2026

Cryptologic Technician Technical Petty Officer Third Class Alexis Kellenberger, effective January 22nd, 2026

Fire Controlman Aegis Petty Officer Second Class Elyceo Herrera, effective January 22nd, 2026

Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer First Class Anastasia Kinyua, effective January 21st, 2026

Electrician Mate Petty Officer Third Class Tyler Sedam effective January 25th, 2026



Photos taken by Quartermaster Seaman Sherozaan Lawrence.

01/30/2026

Congratulations to our deserving newly promoted Sailors of the USS John S. McCain, effective December 30th, 2025. The McCain is proud of their progression and growth as leaders onboard.

Navy Counselor Petty Officer First Class Zulyra Birdperez
Operations Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Denzel Delija
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer Second Class William Drew
Gas Turbine Systems Technician Electrical Petty Officer Second Class Michel Francia
Fire Controlman Aegis Petty Officer Second Class Alexis Garcia
Sonar Technician Petty Officer Second Class Crystal Hernandez
Cryptologic Technician Maintenance Petty Officer Second Class Bennet Jones
Operation Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Moiz Khan
Operation Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Jerry Milsap
Operation Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Navardo Morrison
Operation Specialist Petty Officer Second Class Tamia O’Bryant
Fire Controlman Aegis Petty Officer Second Class Xyla Pinoshanks
Cryptologic Technician Collection Petty Officer Second Class Jaden Slomic
Fire Controlman Petty Officer Second Class Stefan Sobczyk
Cryptologic Technician Collection Petty Officer Second Class Londinn Townsend
Sonar Technician Petty Officer Second Class Cesar Villanueva



Photos taken by Quartermaster Seaman Sherozaan Lawrence

01/24/2026

Reminder to all attendees that our town hall will be held in Moore Auditorium, Building 2000, Naval Station Everett from 2-4pm Pacific Standard Time.

All crew and crew families are welcome to attend!

We are happy to announce the USS John S. McCain will be holding a town hall on the 24th of January 2026 at Moore Auditorium, Building 2000, Naval Station Everett. It will be held from 2-4pm Pacific Standard Time.

All crew and crew families are welcome to attend to meet our new Commanding Officer, Commander David Ingel, our ship’s Ombudsman, and Fleet and Family Representatives.

We can’t wait to see you there!

01/21/2026

We are happy to present to you our very first newsletter for the month of January made with care for our family members and crew!

Our monthly newsletter has pictures highlighting our sailors hard at work, evolutions, promotions, and re-enlistments. You can also hope to find our upcoming events listed that are in our near future!

Thank you all for always supporting us near and far and giving us a reason to serve every day!



Newsletter created by Ensign Matthew Kinsky and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jose Zuniga.