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 Crew Members Visit State

27. October 2017 · Comments Off on COLORADO Crew Members Visit State · Categories: Crew VIsit

PCU Colorado crew members recently completed another visit to Colorado. Visiting the state this time were LTJG Anthony Matus, MMA2 Tristan Newton, ITS2 Nicholas Sylvia, and ETN2 John Warren. They arrived on Monday October 9th and on Tuesday morning they visited Doherty High School in Colorado Springs where they presented a flag flown over the boat on sea trials, for placement in the schools military Hall of Honor. Afterwards they were hosted to lunch at the El Paso Club by the Trustees of the Colorado Thirty Group. After lunch, the Colorado Thirty Group, with the help of crew members, presented a plaque of the ship’s crest to the Colorado Springs City Council. The plaque is a replica of the one that the group presented to the boat at the Christening and is now mounted in the Wardroom. In the evening they had dinner with several Committee members at Front Range BBQ in Colorado Springs.

On Wednesday MMA2 Tristan Newton went to Cherokee Tails High School in Aurora and visited the Industrial Arts Class taught by Paul Clinton. The class is making “Plankowner” plaques for the commissioning crew. In the Navy members of the crew who are present at Commissioning are designated plankowners. Tom Mustin of CBS4 Denver interviewed Petty Officer Newton, two of the students in the class and Mr. Clinton for a piece that showed on the five o’clock news. The students stated how proud they were to be making the plaques for the crew.

After the visit to Cherokee Trails, Petty Officer Newton joined the other members of the crew who started their day in Fort Collins. The crew had visited Fossil Ridge High School and Fort Collins High School in the morning where they made presentations on STEM education and Navy life. At lunch time they made a presentation to the local Rotary and Mayor Wayne Troxell read a proclamation in their honor. In the afternoon they made an all school presentation at Liberty Common High School before heading to Left Hand Brewing in Longmont for a tour and some refreshments. Later they also visited the monthly meeting of the Rocky Mountain Base of the US Submarine Veterans organization where they were greeted warmly.

Thursday the crew was interviewed by KRDO Radio in the Springs and then attended a County Commissioners meeting where a proclamation was read in their honor. They also visited Mesa Ridge High School, Widefield High School and Truman Elementary School. In the evening Mr. Leroy Landhuis of the Landhuis Company and member of the Colorado Thirty Group, hosted a reception at the El Paso Club in their honor. About forty people were present to meet the sailors and ask questions about their experiences. Many made donations to the Committee to help fund Commissioning week events.

On Friday the sailors were again in Colorado Springs. They had an early phone interview on Nash FM 95.1 followed by school visits to Panorama Middle School and Pikes Peak Elementary. In the evening they attended a reception at the Pioneer Museum where a birthday cake was cut in honor of the Navy’s Birthday. After the reception, a number of supporters joined the sailors for a lively dinner at Paravicini’s Italian Bistro in Colorado Springs West End. The highlight of the evening was the crew members serenading the patrons with a rendition of Anchors Aweigh.

The crew did some sightseeing in Denver on Saturday before attending the Navy Ball in Colorado Springs at night. The theme of this festive event was USS Colorado. About 180 persons attended the celebration of the Navy’s Birthday. All seemed to have a good time and enjoyed meeting the sailors. The Springs Mayor John Struthers was the featured speaker. The sailors headed back to Groton on Sunday.

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PCU Colorado to Hold Change of Command

24. October 2017 · Comments Off on PCU Colorado to Hold Change of Command · Categories: Other Event

CDR Ken Franklin, Commanding Officer PCU Colorado (SSN 788), will be relieved by CDR Reed Koepp in ceremonies at Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT. on November 3rd. The ceremony will be held at Pier 6 North starting at 10 AM. CDR Franklin is the first Commanding Officer of Colorado, having reported with the first major increment of the crew in the fall of 2014. At that point the boat was a series of hull sections being built in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and Newport News, Virginia. CDR Franklin has seen the boat all through construction, sea trials and delivery to the Navy. This is a most demanding period for the crew. He has orders to Italy.

CDR Koepp reports to Colorado from Executive Officer of Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston, South Carolina. For complete biographies of both officers, see our Leadership Page.

The Change of Command Ceremony is the traditional naval ceremony that marks the formal transfer of authority and responsibility of command between two officers.

Committee Members J. J. and Florence Mackin will represent the Commissioning Committee at the ceremony.

USS Washington (SSN 787) Commissioned

09. October 2017 · Comments Off on USS Washington (SSN 787) Commissioned · Categories: Other Boats, Other Event

In ceremonies at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday October 7th, USS Washington (SSN 787) joined the fleet as a commissioned US Navy warship. Held on pier 12 at the naval station, between three aircraft carriers at adjacent piers, the weather was bright and sunny on this October day in the Tidewater area. Ship’s sponsor, Elizabeth Mabus, gave the traditional “Man our Ship and Bring Her to Life” command as the crew ran aboard. This was preceded by remarks from shipbuilders and politicians from both Virginia and Washington state. The senior person from Washington was Lt. Governor Habib. Placing the ship in commission for the Chief of Naval Operations was Admiral Frank Caldwell, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

Earlier festivities were the Chairman’s Reception the evening before held at the Half Moon Cruise and Celebration Center. At this reception a number of sponsors presented gifts to the ship. Attending Washington’s events were Colorado Commissioning Committee Chair, JJ Mackin and his wife Florence, who were graciously invited by Washington’s Committee Chair, retired Rear Admiral Mike Sharp. They were able to observe the key events which will be invaluable in planning for Colorado’s Commissioning. Colorado is the next submarine to be commissioned on March 17th, 2018.

During the reception they spoke to Admiral Caldwell about Colorado. The Admiral rides all new construction submarines on their initial Alpha Sea Trials. He had very positive comments about the performance of the crew while he was aboard!