Electric Boat (EB) christened Virginia-class submarine PCU Idaho (SSN 799) on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at a ceremony held in the assembly building at EB’s Groton shipyard. Over 4,000 people, including EB shipbuilders and guests, members of the ship’s crew and their families, U.S. Navy personnel and government officials were in attendance to witness the christening of Idaho—a major milestone in the ship’s life.
Saturday’s ceremony opened with remarks from EB President Kevin Graney, followed by Vice President of Navy Programs at Newport News Shipbuilding, Bryan Caccavale; U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT); U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher (ID); U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT); Governor Brad Little (ID); Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz (CT); Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Admiral William Houston; Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, Nickolas Guertin; and Ship Sponsor of PCU Idaho, Teresa (Terry) Stackley.
In his opening remarks, Graney applauded EB shipbuilders for their work on SSN 799, the fourth U.S. Navy warship and the first U.S. Navy submarine to carry the name Idaho—a state with strong ties to the U.S. Navy. Home to the National Reactor Testing Station, known today as the Idaho National Laboratory, the S1W reactor prototype for the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, was developed in Idaho. “When she joins the fleet, the first U.S. submarine named Idaho will proudly represent her state and its history with our nation’s nuclear Navy,” said Graney.
Graney also pointed out the challenges EB shipbuilders had to overcome to get Idaho to her christening milestone. In addition to completing a significant portion of Idaho’s construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Idaho team worked meticulously to achieve the pressure hull complete milestone in the shortest period of time from arrival of the last hull module of any Block IV boat. “This attention to detail by Idaho’s shipbuilders succeeded in getting “the gem of the fleet” ready for final testing and float off,” said Graney.
Admiral Houston delivered remarks before introducing the keynote speaker, where he referred to PCU Idaho as an apex predator. “This is our national security standing behind us, and I have never been more proud to be an admiral in the United States Navy then today,” said Houston.
Sworn in as assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition in December 2023, Nickolas Guertin has a four-decade combined military and civilian career. His keynote address underscored the importance of submarines to our nation’s defense. “We are a nation that projects power—powerful ships like Idaho here—that enable the nation’s power projection,” said Guertin. “Building advanced submarines like this is one of the best ways we can bring our capability to the world, and we intend for it to stay that way.” Guertin expressed his gratitude for the “ship’s designers, builders and sailors who transform ships like the Idaho from technical drawings to reality.”
Idaho’s ship sponsor, Terry Stackley, has a life-long relationship to the Navy. Her father served as a Navy communications technician prior to taking on a career in naval design, and after climbing the ranks at private shipyards on the Eastern seaboard, he returned to public service with the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. Terry married Sean Stackley, who completed his career in uniform and served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition from 2008 to 2017. “Some half a century ago or so, when I was much, much younger, my father worked here at Electric Boat as a naval engineer,” said Terry. “Much has changed since the days when my dad walked the deckplates here. Let me offer, however, that much remains the same. Electric Boat is today, as it has been throughout its 125-year history, unparalleled in expert craftsmanship and dedication.”
To commemorate the christening, Terry Stackley broke a bottle of sparkling water from Idaho’s rivers, streams and lakes on the ship’s hull. Accompanying her on the christening platform was her maid of honor, Erin Stackley, matrons of honor, Tess Stackley and Maura Langer, Kevin Graney, Admiral Houston and Secretary Guertin.
A recording of the ceremony, along with more information on Idaho, is available at gdebchristenings.com.
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