A new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is being named for former Tucson, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in January of last year, according to an announcement made by the United States Navy.

The announcement was made Friday by the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus. The announcement was accompanied by a statement, which read in part: “The selection of Gabrielle Giffords, designated LCS 10, honors the former Congresswoman from Tucson, Arizona, who is known for supporting the military and Veterans, advocating for renewable energy and championing border security.”

The ship’s sponsor is Roxanna Green, mother of the late Christina Taylor Green, a 9-year-old girl who was killed in the shooting.

SECNAV Ray Mabus shared: “Giffords and the ship’s sponsor, Roxanna Green, are sources of great inspiration and represent the Navy and Marine Corps qualities of overcoming, adapting, and coming out victorious despite great challenges.”

The new LCS named for the former Tucson representative (LCS 10) will be an Independence LCS 2-class ship. It is funded in the 2012 budget, and its construction contract may be awarded to Austal, USA in Mobile, Alabama.

Naming the new LCS after Giffords is considered a deviation from tradition. Fifty-five LCSs are currently being built by the Navy, and the naming scheme for this type of ship was for patriotic-sounding places or regional names. The first two ships were christened Freedom and Independence. Recently, the scheme was changed to small or mid-sized cities; the last two LCSs were named for Montgomery and Little Rock.