Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig announced on Jan. 10 the decision to name the 44th ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers in honor of Paul H. Nitze, co-founder of the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. The USS NITZE will honor Nitze, whose distinguished government career included serving as the 57th secretary of the Navy, from 1963 to 1967.

"Paul Nitze brought strategic intellect and extraordinary courage to bear that helped shape our national security in an era when it was uniquely challenged," Danzig said. "As secretary of the Navy, he also demonstrated a respect and care for Sailors and Marines that directly improved their quality of service. USS NITZE will reflect Paul Nitze's toughness and care in all that the vessel undertakes for America in the years ahead."

SAIS Dean Paul Wolfowitz said, "Paul's spirit lives in [SAIS], a spirit of dedication to public service without concern for rank or title, a spirit of combining theory and practice in the best possible way for the good of the nation and the world. It is altogether fitting that the same distinguished name will now grace one of the ships of our great Navy."

Nitze, adviser to five presidents and leading strategist and arms control expert, founded SAIS in 1943 along with Christian Herter and other leading statesmen. In 1989 the school, which became a division of Hopkins in 1950, was renamed in his honor to recognize his distinguished career and exceptional service to SAIS and the university for five decades.

The USS NITZE will join the fleet in 2004. Arleigh Burke class destroyers are equipped to operate with battle groups in high-threat environments and conduct a variety of missions, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. They also provide essential escort capabilities to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces, combat logistics ships and convoys.