CVN-79 is named after John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963), 35th President of the United States of America (1961–1963).

(Read about LT John F. Kennedy, USNR, at the Naval History & Heritage Command website.)

For many observers, Kennedy's presidency represented the ascendance of youthful idealism in the aftermath of World War II. JFK was the youngest person elected US President, and the youngest to die in office.

Portrait photo of President John F. Kennedy at his desk in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. This is the first White House photograph made of the President at his desk. Photo by Abbie Rowe.

LT(JG) John F. Kennedy aboard the PT-109 in Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 1 June 1943. Photograph in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

(Read about LT John F. Kennedy, USNR, at the Naval History & Heritage Command website.)

A photo illustration of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79). U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay M. Chu (# 110527-N-DX698-001).

(The carrier appears to be, actually, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 aboard).

One of the first pieces of steel is cut for CVN-79, the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford-class, during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, 25 February 2011. Photo by John Whalen, courtesy of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. U.S. Navy photo # 110225-O-XX000-001.

Ceremony participants signed the 33,000-pound piece of steel before it was cut. Pictured from left are Mike Shawcross, vice president, Gerald R. Ford-class Engineering and CVN-79 Construction, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding; U.S. Navy CAPT Kevin Terry, supervisor of shipbuilding, Newport News; The Honorable Madeline McMillan, vice mayor, City of Newport News; RADM Michael McMahon, program executive officer for aircraft carriers; Rep. Bobby Scott (Va-3); Rep. Wittman (Va-1); Rep. Rigell (Va-2); and Matt Mulherin, vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. Photo by Chris Oxley.

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable Ray Mabus, announces the name of the next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA, 29 May 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien (# 110529-N-UH963-087).

Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, addresses friends and family after the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable Ray Mabus, announced the name of the next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA, 29 May 2011. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien (# 110529-N-UH963-134).

The aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) will be the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford class, the Navy's newest class of nuclear aircraft carriers. The ship's first steel was cut in December 2010, and delivery to the Navy is scheduled no later than 2022.

NS027903: U.S. Navy photo illustration courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding (# 110623-N-ZZ999-203), 23 June 2011.

NS027903a: U.S. Navy photo illustration courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding (# 110623-N-ZZ999-204), 23 June 2011.

A unit for the future aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) rests on the assembly platen at Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, 5 March 2014. This is the second ship of the Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers being built by the shipyard for the U.S. Navy. U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries by Chris Oxley (# 140305-N-ZZ999-001).

CVN-79, John F. Kennedy, Keel Laying Ceremony, August 22, 2015. Newport News Shipbuilding (Newport News, VA).

The Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy II, Congressman, 4th District of Massachusetts, signs the keel unit before the ceremony. His great uncle was President John F. Kennedy, CVN-79's namesake.

Huntington Ingall Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) photo by John Whalen (# 31-DCS15-482-69).

The official party looks on as the welder, Mr. Leon Walston, welds the ship's sponsor's (Caroline Kennedy) initials, to permanently put them in place. In the lead row, left to right, are RADM "Buddy" Yates, N.N. S.B. President Matt Mulherin, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and Rep. Joseph Kennedy III.

Leon Walston, a Newport News Shipbuilding welder from Massachusetts, displays the welded initials of Caroline Kennedy, the sponsor of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), in Newport News, Va., 22 August 2015. Also pictured (left to right) are RADM Earl Yates, the first commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67); Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin; Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe; and Rep. Joseph Kennedy. U.S. Navy photo (# 150822-N-ZZ999-001) courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries; photo by Chris Oxley.

As above.

Retired RADM Earl "Buddy" Yates uses Lead Rigger Mike Williams's walkie-talkie to give the command to Crane Operator Dave Rushing to "hoist this keel unit into the dry dock." Yates was the first commanding officer of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67).

Huntington Ingall Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) photo by Chris Oxley (# 33-DCS15-481-507).

The keel laying section, after the ceremony, is moved into the drydock, and down into the blocks. Admiral "Buddy" Yates gave the order for the crane operator (Mr. David Rushing) to do that.

A screen grab of a Huntington Ingalls Industries' video of the keel laying of nuclear carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79). HII image.

The giant 1,050-ton crane known as "Big Blue" carries the engine room No. 2 unit over Dry Dock 12 during the carrier's keel-laying ceremony, 22 August 2015.

Huntington Ingall Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) photo by Chris Oxley (# 34-DCS15-481-548).

John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), #314 Lift, pump room module, 1 April 2016.

©Huntington Ingall Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) photo by John Whalen (# 35-DCS16-203-125).

The future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) in Dry Dock 12, Newport News, VA, 1 November 2016. Photo by Chris Oxley, ©Newport News Shipbuilding.

A crane moves the lower stern into place on the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va, 22 June 2017. The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier was 50 percent structurally complete. U.S. Navy photo by Matt Hildreth (# 170622-N-N2201-099), ©Newport News Shipbuilding.

A crane moves the lower stern into place on the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va, 22 June 2017. U.S. Navy photo by John Whalen (# 170622-N-N2201-119), ©Newport News Shipbuilding.

A crane moves the lower stern into place on the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va, 22 June 2017. U.S. Navy photo by John Whalen (# 170622-N-N2201-140), ©Newport News Shipbuilding.