ADVISORY, Dec. 7, 2009 -- 

  What:                   Keel Authentication ceremony for the Northrop
                         Grumman-built amphibious transport dock ship
                         Somerset (LPD 25) at the company's Avondale,
                         La., facility. Somerset is named in honor of
                         the heroes lost on Sept. 11, 2001 on United
                         Airlines Flight 93. The actions of these 40
                         passengers and crew saved countless lives and
                         inspired our nation.

 When:                   Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, 10 a.m. Arrive no
                         later than 9:30 a.m. Media representatives
                         will be escorted to the keel-laying site.

 Where:                  Northrop Grumman Avondale Administration Bldg.
                         (Rock House)
                         5100 River Road
                         Avondale, La. (70094)

 Special Guests:
                    *    Mary Jo Myers, ship's sponsor for Somerset
                         (LPD 25)
                    *    Gordon Felt, president of the Families of
                         Flight 93
                    *    John Vatavuk, County Commissioner, Somerset
                         County, Pa.
                    *    U.S. Navy Rear Adm. William E. Landay, III,
                         program executive officer, ships
                    *    U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Gen. Richard B. Myers,
                         former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
                    *    Irwin F. Edenzon, vice president and general
                         manager, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf
                         Coast
                    *    Northrop Grumman shipbuilders will
                         participate in ceremony

 RSVP:                   Media representatives must RSVP by noon,
                         Thursday, Dec. 10 to:
                         Ed Winter, Communications Site Manager
                         Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf Coast,
                         Avondale Facility
                         (504) 654-5253/ (504) 908-4364
                         Ed.winter@ngc.com

Background: LPD 25 - The Navy's newest amphibious transport dock ship bears the name Somerset. LPD 25 is the ninth LPD ship in the series being built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding on the Gulf Coast. The 684-foot-long, 105-foot-wide amphibious ships are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies, by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft and Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles (amphibious assault vehicles), augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as the Osprey. The ships will support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions throughout the first half of the 21st century. Somerset is currently under construction at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Avondale, La., and is expected to be delivered to the U. S. Navy in 2012.