L-R: Ship Sponsor Christie Vilsack; Maid of Honor Caroline Vilsack; Electric Boat President Kevin Graney; Undersecretary of the Navy Erik Raven.
Electric Boat christened the 24th submarine of the Virginia class, PCU Iowa (SSN 797), on Saturday, June 17, 2023, during a ceremony held at EB’s Groton shipyard. The submarine Iowa is the fourth U.S. Navy warship named after the 29th state, and the first submarine to bear the name. 797 Iowa succeeds U.S. battleships BB 4, BB 53 and BB 61—also known as the “Battleship of the Presidents,” having transported President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to numerous international conferences before transferring to the Pacific Theatre to support the island-hopping campaigns and the Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay.
Over 3,000 people were in attendance for Saturday’s ceremony, including Electric Boat shipbuilders and their guests, members of the ship’s crew and their families, U.S. Navy personnel and government officials. The event was livestreamed and viewed live at numerous watch parties across the state of Iowa.
Prior to the traditional bottle break that christened the ship, guests heard remarks from Electric Boat President Kevin Graney; Newport News Shipbuilding Vice President Bryan Caccavale; U.S. Representative (CT) Joe Courtney; U.S. Representative (IA) Zachary Nunn; U.S. Senator (CT) Richard Blumenthal; Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Vice Admiral Frank Morley; Undersecretary of the Navy Erik Raven; and Ship Sponsor of PCU Iowa Christie Vilsack. Bishop Clarence Hill, retired Electric Boat employee, performed the blessing of the ship.
“I am proud of Electric Boat’s shipbuilders, and thank them for the skills, capabilities and commitment they bring to their work every day, resulting in this magnificent ship,” said Kevin Graney. “Along with their dedication and hard work, Electric Boat’s shipbuilders have a long history of innovation. We invest in cutting-edge tools and technology to deliver advanced capabilities in acoustic superiority, enhanced stealth, innovative weapons and new missions. We are committed to helping the U.S. Navy outpace our adversaries and ensure our nation’s continued dominance in the undersea domain,” said Graney.
Undersecretary of the Navy Erik Raven delivered the keynote address. “The Iowa will join the fleet at a critical time when our nation will need the most capable, most ready, most agile and most lethal undersea fighting force to strengthen our nation’s ability to keep the peace, or restore it, through decisive action,” Raven told the crowd. “Iowa will add next-generation capabilities to our Joint Force. She will also be one of the first specifically designed and built to accommodate female and male service members, a commitment to supporting a culture of inclusion,” he continued.
Ship sponsor of PCU Iowa, Christie Vilsack, is an Iowa educator and advisor with a 50-year career in education and public service. “In the name of the United States, I christen thee Iowa. May God Bless her and all who sail in her,” Christie declared before breaking a bottle of sparkling wine from Fireside Winery in Marengo, Iowa, on the ship’s hull to commemorate the christening.
Iowa is the 12th submarine of the Virginia class to be delivered by Electric Boat. Along with the other ships of the class, she is designed for the full range of 21st-century mission requirements, including anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.
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