The Navy commissioned its eighth Virginia-class submarine, USS California (SSN 781), during a ceremony held at Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 29. More than 1,500 people attended the ceremony at the naval station, while others viewed it live on the Internet. Rep. Buck McKeon of California, House Armed Se
A Pre-Commissioning Unit California (SSN 781) Sailor, originally from Compton, Calif., reflects on serving aboard the Navy’s newest Virginia-class submarine on the eve of her commissioning, Oct. 29. “As a native Californian, I’m proud to represent the Golden State,” said Chief Culinary Specialist (S
Commissioning committee members supporting the future (USS) Minnesota (SSN 783) will attend the Pre-Commissioning Unit California (SSN 781) commissioning Oct. 29 to learn the nuances of a commissioning ceremony. Commissioning committee members Dave Hutton, Brian Skon, and Jim Sillman will participat
A group of Radford High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets visited Los Angeles-class submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) to get a firsthand look at basic submarine operations, Oct. 26. The cadets were on board Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to learn about the Submarine Force and t
A World War II veteran who served aboard the submarine USS Batfish (SS 310) will pass the “long glass,” a tradition to signify the start of the first watch, during the commissioning ceremony aboard the Virginia-class submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit California (SSN 781) Oct. 29. Dr. Joseph Cox, form
Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $91,151,493 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00012) to previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-2118) for lead yard services efforts related to Virginia-class submarines. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn. (91.1 percent); Newport News, Va
When Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) California (SSN 781) is commissioned Oct. 29 it will join the fleet with a crest designed by the father of one of the boat’s Sailors. Ken Henley, father of Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SS) David Henley assigned to PCU California, reflected on designing a logo for the
The first sea lord and chief of naval staff of the British Royal Navy visited the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780), the seventh ship of the class, during his tour of General Dynamics Electric Boat, Oct. 17. Adm. Mark Stanhope serves as the Royal Navy’s professional head and cha
The chief of the boat (COB) assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) North Dakota (SSN 784) is participating in his first namesake visit to bring awareness to the Virginia class submarine, Oct. 20-23. PCU North Dakota’s Chief of the Boat Master Chief Electronics Technician (SS/DV) Timothy A. Preabt,
A group of six Marines from the Wounded Warrior Detachment Hawaii (WW DET HI) Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay visited the Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) to get a first-hand look at basic submarine operations, Oct 18 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The visit included a tour of
General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, was recently awarded a $37 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the fitting-out availability of the San Antonio-class amphibious assault dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22). Work under this contract will be performed at NASSCO be
The commanding officer of Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise (SSN 764) and three crew members are participating in a three-day namesake visit to the “Gem State” Oct. 20-22. Cmdr. Brian Sittlow, commanding officer, USS Boise will also meet with Gov. C. L. “Butch” Otter, Boise Mayor David Bi
Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $118,977,769 modification under a previously awarded contract (N00024-10-C-2102) for engineering, technical, design, configuration management, integrated logistics support, database management, research and development, modernization, tr
Guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) pulled into HMNB Clyde Oct. 14, officially ending two weeks of multinational, multi-warfare training exercises known as Joint Warrior 11-2. During Joint Warrior, the crew of Burke worked alongside servicemembers from more than a dozen countries com