The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) boards the ship following its commissioning ceremony in North Charleston, S.C., Saturday, April 20, 2024. The Calhoun is named for the first master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, Charles Calhoun. (Nick Ameen/U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its newest cutter, the USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759), on Saturday at Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C.

The Legend-class national security cutter is named for the first master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, Charles L. Calhoun.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan presided over the ceremony.

Calhoun served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1946. His Coast Guard career was marked by over 170 months of sea service, including service in Vietnam. Calhoun served as master chief petty officer from 1969-1973, advising the commandant on matters affecting the enlisted ranks. The commissioning ceremony’s date, April 20, was in honor of Calhoun’s birthday.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan and Capt. Timothy Sommella, commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759), salute each other during the cutter’s commissioning ceremony, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. ( Brandon Hillard/U.S. Coast Guard)

“I’m honored to share the job title, master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, with Charles Calhoun,” said Heath Jones, 14th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. “His efforts as a voice for the enlisted workforce created significant, lasting culture change within the Coast Guard. His dedication to people, the most precious resource we have, and the challenges he faced paved the way for the talent transformation work we’re doing today.”

The 418-foot, Legend-class national security cutters are equipped with state-of-the-art command and control equipment, the ability to launch and house multiple small boats and aircraft and an advanced engineering plant capable of reaching speeds of roughly 30 mph, making them the most versatile cutters in the Coast Guard fleet. The cutter’s primary missions will include counterdrug operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources and defense readiness.

Calhoun is the 10th Legend-Class national security cutter and will be homeported in North Charleston alongside Coast Guard Cutters Hamilton (WMSL 753), James (WMSL 754) and Stone (WMSL 758).

USCGC Calhoun departed Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., on Nov. 19, 2023. The national security cutter is the 10th Legend-class cutter to be delivered to the Coast Guard. (Huntington Ingalls Industries)