Welcome

Welcome to USS Colorado (SSN-788) Commissioning Committee web site. USS Colorado (SSN-788) is the 15th Virginia Class submarine. She was delivered to the Navy on September 21, 2017. Having completed shakedown operations, she was commissioned on March 17, 2018 at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT. The Committee's purposes are to promote awareness within the state, provide support for the crew, and to help organize and raise money for the events surrounding commissioning.

Crew Members Visit Colorado

18. April 2016 · Comments Off on Crew Members Visit Colorado · Categories: Crew VIsit

Executive Officer LCDR Stephen Col along with ETR1 (SS) Kurt O’Donnell, MA2 (SS) Jason Lawrence and EMN2(SS) Luke O’Day from PCU Colorado visited Colorado from April 6 through the 8th. During their visit they visited several schools, met with the Governor’s Chief of Staff, visited the Olympic Training Center and attended a reception in their honor at Balistreri Vineyards.

The crew members arrived on Tuesday April 5th and were met at DIA by the airport’s Chief Financial Officer, Gisela Shanahan and members of the Committee.Crew met at DIA

On Wednesday the crew traveled to Colorado Springs first stopping by Garden of the Gods and then visiting Harrison High School ROTC and Pikes Peak Prep Charter School K-12 . They then went on a tour of the Olympic Training Center where they met Olympic boxer Ginny Fuchs. In the evening they attended Colorado Springs Navy League Council meeting and dinner.

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On Thursday the crew visited Overland High School and George Washington High School and visited the Colorado Freedom Memorial and Battleship Colorado Memorabilia at the Naval Reserve Center at Buckley AFB. In the afternoon they visited the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Doug Friednash, and then received a special tour of the Colorado State Capitol.

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Friday started with a visit to Campus Middle School before going to Coors Field to participate in the opening day ceremonies for the Rockies. In the evening they attended a reception in their honor at Balistreri Vineyards. About 160 persons came to meet with the sailors. Steffan Tubbs or KOA Radio was the emcee for the evening. Retired Vice Admiral Jay Donnelly was our guest speaker and showed slides and discussed the new construction process. There was a birthday cake and a toast to celebrate the Submarine Birthday. Noted Colorado landscape photographer John Fielder gave a presentation discussing the donation of his photography to decorate common areas of the boat. A silent and live auction generated about $7,000 for the committee. Overall it was a great evening.

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John Fielder Supports the USS Colorado

01. April 2016 · Comments Off on John Fielder Supports the USS Colorado · Categories: Gifts

In a meeting Friday, April 1 (no fooling!) nationally-acclaimed Colorado nature photographer John Fielder met with USS Colorado SSN 788 Commissioning Chairman John “J.J.” Mackin, and Vice Chair, Dick Cooper, in his Denver gallery to discuss his support to improve the living environment for the crew on USS Colorado, which is due to be commissioned in Groton, CT in 2017.

John is supplying the scenic photography to grace locker fronts in the crew’s mess; a major improvement over the wood-grain plastic laminate normally supplied in construction.  In addition, Mr. Fielder donated a signed copy of Colorado 1870-2000, to be auctioned at the April 8 event at Balistreri Vineyards. He will discuss the project at this event. If you would like to attend this event and hear about the project and have a chance to bid on his fabulous book visit the event page.

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