PASCAGOULA, Miss. — A graduate of Massabesic High School is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of a hand-selected crew charged with bringing the America, the Navy’s newest and most advanced amphibious assault ship, into service.

Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Leslie Lewis, from Lyman, Maine, is serving aboard the ship, which is the first ship of its class. Construction of the America was completed earlier this year and it was turned over to the Navy and her crew on April 10. After the ship is certified and sea trials are complete, the ship will be placed into commission as USS America and will be homeported in San Diego, California.

Lewis and the rest of the 1,000-person crew brought the ship to life during this past summer, overseeing construction, testing new equipment, training on new systems and testing the ship at sea, according to a statement from the U.S. Navy. The crew will eventually grow to more than 1,100 sailors and nearly 1,900 embarked Marines when the ship is at sea. America is 844 feet long, 106 feet wide and weighs nearly 45,000 tons. The ship has twin gas-turbine engines that push the ship through the water at more than 22 knots.

As one of the sailors who will commission the ship, Lewis is getting a first-hand look at the improvements the Navy has incorporated into the design of the ship: a more fuel-efficient gas turbine propulsion plant, increased capacity for aviation operations, advanced weapons systems, and sophisticated electronics and communications suites, according to the Navy statement.

Lewis said it is an exciting time to be in the Navy and helping to build a crew and a ship from scratch is something he never expected to be doing just a couple years ago. The 35-year-old sailor said he realizes the historical value of what it means to not only be selected to be part of a commissioning crew, but to help commission a ship named after his country.

“Being assigned to a ship named America is a great responsibility,” said Lewis. “In my division, we give everything one extra push to make something perfect. I’m proud to be part of this crew.”

Lewis said he is honored to be a part of the America commissioning crew and thankful for the chance to do something he loves.

“There isn’t anything that I don’t love about being an AC,” he said. “No day is exactly the same, and no situation is exactly the same. Each aircraft has a different set of variables, and we have to be prepared to deal with that on a case-by-case basis to ensure the safety of the pilot and aircraft.”

In addition to being excited about an opportunity to help commission the America, Lewis said he is also excited for his future in the Navy.

“I want to do at least 20 years in the Navy,” he said. “I have a great job and I’m looking forward to meeting new career challenges. This is my first ship, and now we are all preparing for what will be my first deployment.”

Lewis’ supervisor said he is an outstanding sailor and will do many great things going forward.

“Petty Officer Lewis is an outstanding Second Class Petty Officer with a dynamic work ethic,” said Chief Air Traffic Controller Ronesha Nation, Lewis’ leading chief petty officer. “Upon reporting to America, he demonstrated unparalleled motivation by progressing rapidly through his shipboard training schedule. He provides radar air traffic control services to pilots during the most critical phase of flight as a Radar Final Controller and was chosen to be the primary trainer to qualify all air traffic controllers on this position.

“I feel extremely lucky to have Petty Officer Lewis in my division and expect great things from him throughout the course of his Navy career.”

Capt. Robert A. Hall Jr. will be the commanding officer of future USS America. The America class of amphibious assault ships replaces the aging Tarawa class, according to the U.S. Navy. Its design enables it to carry a larger and more diverse complement of aircraft, including the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey, the new Joint Strike Fighter, and a mix of cargo and assault helicopters. America will be able to support a wide spectrum of military operations and missions, including putting Marines ashore for combat operations, launching air strikes, keeping sea lanes free and open for the movement of global commerce, and delivering humanitarian aid following a disaster like the typhoon that devastated the Philippines in 2013.

PCU America (LHA-6), the fourth American warship to be named for the United States of America, will be the first of the America-class amphibious assault ships for the U.S. Navy. She replaces USS Peleliu (LHA-5) of the Tarawa class to act as the flagship of an expeditionary strike group or amphibious ready group, carrying part of a Marine expeditionary unit into battle and putting them ashore with helicopters and V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, supported by F-35B Lightning II aircraft and helicopter gunships.