USS Hopper (DDG-70)

• Namesake: USS Hopper (DDG-70) is named after Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneering computer scientist and United States Navy officer, known as “Amazing Grace.” She was instrumental in the development of COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages. • Second Warship Honoring a Female: USS Hopper is only the second U.S. Navy warship named for a woman from the Navy’s own ranks, following the USS Higbee (DD-806), honoring Lenah Higbee, a nurse and Navy veteran. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on September 6, 1997, at San Francisco, California, with Rear Admiral Hopper herself having passed away only five years prior. • Homeport: Hopper is homeported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, strategically positioning her in the U.S. Pacific Fleet. • Key Deployments: Hopper has participated in numerous deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf, supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. • Missile Defense: The ship is equipped with the Aegis Combat System and has played a role in ballistic missile defense operations, including being one of the first to track both satellite and missile launches in the Pacific. • Grace Hopper’s “Bug”: Hopper’s namesake, Rear Admiral Hopper, is famously credited with discovering the first actual computer “bug” (a moth) in a computer relay. The ship’s crest features a gold moth in her honor. • Public Outreach: USS Hopper often participates in community events and Navy Week celebrations, showcasing STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) careers, inspired by Grace Hopper’s legacy. • Multinational Exercises: The destroyer frequently takes part in multinational exercises such as RIMPAC, working alongside allied navies to enhance interoperability and security in the Pacific. • Motto: The ship’s motto is “Audacious in Concept, Meticulous in Execution,” a tribute to the innovative spirit of Grace Hopper and the ship’s commitment to excellence.