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.

Colorado Completes Initial Sea Trials

31. August 2017 · Comments Off on Colorado Completes Initial Sea Trials · Categories: KeyEvent

PCU Colorado returned from sea trials on August 30 completing both the Alpha and Bravo trials. The first phase, Alpha Trials, lasted from 19th to the 22nd and included a range of submarine and propulsion-plant operations, submerging for the first time, and high-speed runs on and below the surface to demonstrate that the ship’s propulsion plant is fully mission-capable.The trials were directed by U.S. Navy Adm. James F. Caldwell Jr., Director – Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. Also participating in the sea trials were Capt. Jeffrey Heydon, supervisor of shipbuilding in Groton; and Jeffrey S. Geiger, president of Electric Boat. 

PCU COLORADO underway on Alpha Trials, August 19, 2017. Photo by Electric Boat

The crew preformed extremely well testing the boat to it’s design limits. After an inport period, the boat will return to sea for an inspection with the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), which is the last major step before a ship is certified ready to be delivered to the Navy. Congratulations COLORADO!

Coincidentally, as SSN 788 completed her sea trials on August 30th, that day also marks 94 years since the commissioning of USS Colorado (BB-45). Their alumni association’s website notes:

“Thus in 1921, the third in the COLORADO lineage of fighting ships became the cynosure of international relations. The world saw the epitome of floating potency. Two years of fitting out elapsed between the 1921 launching of USS COLORADO (BB-45) and her commissioning on August 30, 1923. Captain Reginald Rowan Belknap (Annapolis ’91), veteran of the Spanish-American and World Wars, the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion, was ordered to command this newest addition the United States Fleet, the last such addition for many years in accordance with the Naval treaty.”

For more about BB-45 visit the USS Colorado Alumni Association  website.

Some additional pictures of COLORADO underway by Toni Franklin and Mary Keyes

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USS Colorado Crest Presented to State Capitol

21. August 2017 · Comments Off on USS Colorado Crest Presented to State Capitol · Categories: Other Event

On Friday August 18th, the Colorado Thirty Group presented a bronze sculpture of the Ship’s Crest to the State Capitol. Don Addy, Executive Director of the Colorado Thirty group, State Senator Bob Gardner, Sponsor of the USS Colorado Support Bill passed in the last session of the legislature, and JJ Mackin, Chairman of the Commissioning Committee appeared before the State Capitol Improvements Committee to make the presentation. This crest is another copy of the one presented to the boat at Christening and now is mounted in the Wardroom. The Colorado Thirty Group has also presented a copy to the Pentagon and will present a fourth copy to the City of Colorado Springs in October. The crest will be mounted sometime next spring in the South wing of the Capitol

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The Colorado Thirty Group, founded in 1978, is a state-wide military support organization providing educational events to its participants. The group also provides Colorado military installation commanders with connections to communities in the state and acts in support of military missions.

Commissioning to be held in March; Crew prepares for Sea Trials

09. August 2017 · Comments Off on Commissioning to be held in March; Crew prepares for Sea Trials · Categories: News & Updates

We have been anxiously awaiting confirmation of a commissioning date by the Navy. We had been working towards a target date of October 21st, but were recently informed that March 17th is the most probable date for Commissioning. This date is circulating with Navy circles, but needs to be formally approved by the Secretary of the Navy before it becomes official. The commissioning will now occur near the end of the post construction shakedown period instead of before. This was done to provide margin in event any construction issues arise during the upcoming sea trials and to provide more lead time for planning / contracting. While we are disappointed that the commissioning will be delayed, it gives us even more time to plan a great celebration!

Meanwhile  the crew has been busy with their preparations for sea trials. They are undergoing a series of events, namely Dock Trials and Fast Cruise and completing their crew certification to take the boat to sea for the first time. We anticipate their sea trials will commence in the very near future..

Committee makes presentation to Senator Gardner

05. August 2017 · Comments Off on Committee makes presentation to Senator Gardner · Categories: Committee Event, Other Event

On July 21st the Committee, in conjunction with sponsor Charles Schwab, presented a framed picture of the ship’s crest to Senator Cory Gardner. On hand were Committee members Ryan Schwab, Dick Cooper and Florence Mackin along with several members of Charles Schwab organization at the Schwab campus in Lone Tree. Several members of Senator Gardner’s staff were also on hand, including 3 interns working for the summer in his Denver office. The Senator was interested in the activities of the committee over the past 3 years. He was proud to add his signature to our “traveling” picture of a Virginia Class submarine, and was quite impressed with the picture of the ship’s crest which will hang in his office in Washington, DC.

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Congressman Perlmutter honors Vietnam Veterans

05. August 2017 · Comments Off on Congressman Perlmutter honors Vietnam Veterans · Categories: Other Event

On July 21st Committee Chair JJ Mackin was honored to join Congressman Ed Perlmutter and Colorado’s new Adjutant General, Major General Michael Loh, in honoring Vietnam-era veterans in a ceremony at Red Rock Community College. Over 50 veterans of every service we presented with Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins and a certificate. The veterans were joined by their families and seemed truly appreciative of the ceremony. This was the fifth such ceremony Congressman Perlmutter has organized. For more information visit Congressman Perlmutter’s Web Site. Photos courtesy of Congressman Perlmutter’s staff.

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