On Nov. 20, hundreds of Newport News shipbuilders who contributed to the construction of the District of Columbia (SSBN 826) bow unit gathered in Bldg. 1913 to celebrate the delivery of the unit.
The program included brief remarks from Jason Ward, vice president of New Construction Submarine Programs; Stefanie Link, executive director for Program Executive Office Strategic Submarines (PEO SSBN); and Capt. Heath Johnmeyer, SSBN 826’s commanding officer.
“You, as a team, have achieved a significant milestone with the delivery of the 826 bow,” Ward said. “Your hard work and dedication will go down in history as the men and women who fabricated, assembled and tested the largest submarine in U.S. history. The nation is counting on us.”
Link and Capt. Johnmeyer echoed these sentiments, praising shipbuilders for moving the Columbia-class closer to operation – a vital progression as the Ohio-class ages.
“I see the submarine force as three different areas,” Capt. Johnmeyer explained. “First, the folks in uniform who operate them; second, the communities and families that support us; and the last are the people we don’t talk about a lot, the ones we don’t say ‘thank you’ enough to – you all. We wouldn’t have a submarine force if it weren’t for what you all do. Remember that every day you come down here, it’s a mission.”
Following the remarks, shipbuilders enjoyed a chicken and pork barbeque luncheon before returning to the job.
