On Saturday, Oct. 20, Gloria Valdez, the ship sponsor, christened Vermont (SSN 792), the 19th ship of the Virginia Class. Valdez recently retired as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy overseeing naval shipbuilding programs. “To the exceptional shipbuilders, the many trades and specialized artisans, thank you for building this incredible submarine for our nation and bringing this critical capability to our fleet, she said. “Remember that each of you is forever a part of Vermont’s history,” said Valdez
With a resounding thwack, Valdez christened the ship with a bottle of sparkling wine from the Putney Mountain Winery in Vermont.
The first Vermont was a warship laid down at the Boston Navy Yard in 1818 and launched in 1848. It served out of South Carolina during the Civil War and was then transferred to New York, where it served as a store and receiving ship. The second Vermont was a battleship commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard in 1907. It was part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s “Great White Fleet” and visited ports around the world.
Commenting on EB’s workforce, U.S. Representative Joe Courtney said “this capability could only be built and launched with the masterful workforce of Electric Boat. EB’s ranks are growing, with fresh talent. A new generation is taking up the challenge of building the most complex platforms in the world. This younger and more diverse workforce is ready and dedicated to its responsibilities to national defense.”
In his remarks, EB President Jeff Geiger said, “I am particularly proud of Electric Boat’s shipbuilders, and thank them for the skills, capabilities and commitment they bring to their work every day.”
