Commissionings

Cmdr. Dana Nelson, commanding officer of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS California (SSN 781), Mrs. Donna Joy Willard, ship’s sponsor, and Master Chief Kevin Bond, chief of the boat, prepare to bring the ship to life during the commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine USS California (SSN 781) at Naval Station Norfolk. U.S. Navy photo 111029-N-NY820-147.

By Ensign Eric Durie, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) — The Navy commissioned its eighth Virginia-class submarine, USS California (SSN 781), during a ceremony held at Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 29, 2011.

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 Services Committee chairman and the ceremony’s keynote speaker, welcomed California to the fleet and reminded the crew of the important role they will play in protecting the nation’s security.

“Members of the crew: always keep your eyes and your ears open,” said McKeon. “Remember your oath and your creed. This nation depends on you and your stewardship of the California. Remember, you are the quiet warriors. You are the silent sentinels. You are the shield around us. You are the chosen few.”

Also on hand for the commissioning was Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert, who also spoke about the California crew.

“What this is all about is the Sailors who volunteer to serve,” said Greenert. “Your actions reflect our proud heritage and tradition. I am proud of you and I’m proud to serve with you.”

Greenert also focused his remarks on how today, this event and this submarine reflected his tenets: Warfighting First, Operate Forward and Be Ready. He also pointed out the fiscal judiciousness of the builders.

“I challenged them (Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding) at the christening to deliver on time and on budget,” said Greenert. “They did it.”

The builders delivered the submarine eight months early and under budget.

California, the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities.

“The Navy and our CNO have been waiting. USS California is the first ship to be commissioned on Admiral Greenert’s watch as our new CNO. You are the first warship indelibly marked with his sailing directions from our very birth. He expects you to maintain our superiority in the undersea domain,” said Commander, Submarine Forces, Vice Adm. John M. Richardson.

With the traditional first order, “Man our ship and bring her to life,” the Navy’s wait was over.

“Today, I am excited to receive yet another platform of undersea superiority,” said Greenert, “a platform deployable anytime, anywhere, capable of owning the undersea domain.”

Greenert is not the only one who has been anticipating California‘s official arrival.

“Our allies have been waiting. Because they know that you’ll soon be on patrol, in the cold, deep, and quiet waters of the arctic to the shallow, warm, crowded waters of the tropics. And they gain assurance knowing that you are a force for good – keeping the global economy flowing freely over the ocean trade routes,” said Richardson.

Richardson added that there are some who have not looked forward to the day California would join the submarine force.

“Many have been wishing this day would never come,” he said. “Those who would deny freedom, those who oppose our national interests and our calling to protect the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – this is a day that will keep them awake at night.”

California will directly enable five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

As the Navy’s newest Virginia-class submarine, California will support these capabilities for years to come.

“California has many decades of service ahead,” Richardson said, “but we can’t afford to lose a single moment. We need California on the front lines now.”

California is designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.

The submarine is 377 feet long, has a 34-foot beam, will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and will operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged.

Construction on California began February 2006; the submarine’s keel was authenticated during a ceremony on May 1, 2009, and she was christened during a ceremony Nov. 6, 2010.

Cmdr. Dana Nelson is California‘s first commanding officer. Nelson leads a crew of about 134 officers and enlisted personnel. A native of Clinton, Conn., he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1992, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Donna Willard, wife of Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Robert F. Willard, serves as the submarine’s sponsor. She broke the traditional champagne bottle against the boat’s sail during the christening ceremony last November. Her initials were welded into a plaque inside the boat during last year’s keel-laying ceremony.

California is the seventh Navy ship, and first submarine, to be named in honor of the people of the Golden State. The most recent USS California was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser (CGN 36) that was in service from February 1974 to July 1999.

By David L. Hostetler, COMNAVSURFPAC Public Affairs

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) — USS Spruance (DDG 111) became the newest member of the Navy’s Pacific fleet after being placed in commission during a sunset ceremony at Naval Air Station Key West Oct. 1.

The new destroyer honors legendary Adm. Raymond Spruance, whose calm and decisive leadership at the Battle of Midway contributed to a pivotal American victory during World War II.

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark E. Ferguson III delivered the ceremony’s principal address. “We welcome the USS Spruance and her crew to the fleet,” said Ferguson.

“Wherever she sails, this ship will honor Admiral Spruance’s legacy as the ‘quiet warrior’ who displayed uncompromising integrity and a powerful intellect, while giving the nation victories at sea in time of war. “Ellen Spruance-Holscher, the ship’s sponsor and granddaughter of the ship’s namesake, gave the order to “man our ship and bring her to life” prompting the crew of 285 officers and enlisted personnel to run aboard and officially begin the ship’s life.

Simultaneously, the ship’s systems were activated. Movement of the ship’s Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) gun, sounding of alarms, rotation of fire-control radars and a prolonged whistle blast showed approximately 3,400 guests in attendance that the ship was ready for service to the Navy and our country. Cmdr. Tate Westbrook, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is the ship’s first commanding officer and spoke of the advanced weapons systems on Spruance and credited his Sailors with an outstanding effort preparing to operate them.

“Spruance’s crew has trained for years to sharpen their skills to employ those capabilities,” said Westbrook. “On board Spruance, through many long hours, they have sharpened their swords.”

Spruance, the 61st Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the second Navy ship to bear the name, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Spruance will contain myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare and be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously.

The 9,200-ton Spruance was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots. Spruance will proceed to her initial homeport of San Diego Oct. 3 as the newest member of Destroyer Squadron 23.

For more news, visit www.navy.mil.

By Mass Communication Specialist First Class Brian S. Finney

MOBILE, Ala. – The Navy welcomed guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) into the fleet during a commissioning ceremony in Mobile, Ala., June 4.

The newest Arleigh Burke-class ship, the 60th of its class, is named in honor of the late Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, a highly-decorated Naval aviator and Vietname prisoner of war.

Lawrence began his naval career as an academic scholar and athlete at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he later returned to occupy the Chair of Naval Leadership after retiring from active duty, Feb. 1, 1986.

His aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam in June 1967 and he was held captive until March 1973. His dedication and perseverance during that period inspired the ship to claim the motto, “Never Give In.”

“[Lawrence] and many others were heroes among heroes by leading a resistance of our prisoners in Vietnam,” said Adm. James Winnefeld, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and Commander, United States Northern Command. “Indeed we should recognize those men that are with us today because consistent with our ship’s motto, they never gave in.”

“I assure you we will be ready,” said Cmdr. Tom Williams, commanding officer, USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110). “Whatever challenge may be ahead for this crew, we have set a good course and the only course I will accept is toward excellence.”

An audience of more than 3,000 attended the ceremony, held at the Alabama State Docks. The crowd consisted of family and friends of USS William P. Lawrence crew members, a host of U.S. military veterans and many others associated with the Lawrence family.

The ship was christened by three women important to Lawrence, his widow, Diane Wilcox Lawrence, and daughters, Dr. Laurie Macpherson Lawrence and U.S. Navy Capt. (ret.) Wendy B. Lawrence, the ship’s sponsor.

The ceremony concluded when the Lawrence family said, bring our ship to life!” The Sailors then manned the rails.

“I look at this as a spring board to much greater things, it’s my first command and I couldn’t be happier,” said Sonar Technician Seaman Apprentice Scott Peterson. “I am very proud to be a part of the most technologically advanced warship in the world.”

During the ship’s brief stop in Mobile, the crew of William P. Lawrence was heartily welcomed by the local community. The city’s minor league baseball team hosted a Navy night, during which Williams threw the first pitch. Crew members also donated many service hours to Habitat for Humanities community relations projects.

“The Sailors on this ship has taken [Lawrence’s] spirit and his character to heart and they’re the real secret to making this the best ship in the fleet, said Williams. “We’re named for a modern naval hero who was known as the Sailor’s Admiral, and he really took care of people.”