NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Sept. 28, 2018) The final piece of the underwater hull of the future aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is lowered into place at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding. John F. Kennedy is the second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier and the second aircraft carrier to be named after the 35th president. The 1,096-foot hull is longer than three football fields and more than 3,000 shipbuilders and 2,000 suppliers from across the country are supporting construction of the ship. The christening for John F. Kennedy is scheduled for late 2019. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries by Matt Hildreth)