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.

USS Colorado FRG Blanket Sale

08. March 2019 · Comments Off on USS Colorado FRG Blanket Sale · Categories: Other Event

USS Colorado Family Readiness Group (FRG) is the group organized to support families of USS Colorado sailors, especially while the boat is deployed. They are raising funds to organize morale boosting events for crews and families. by selling special USS Colorado blankets. These high quality knit blankets are inscribed with the ship’s crest and are 53” wide by 71” long. The cost is $55.00 without personalization, or $60.00 with personalization up to 18 characters.

The last day for orders is April 1st

If you are in need of some warmth on these cold winter nights and would like to take this opportunity to support our namesake submarine you may order online with this Goggle Blanket Order Form . There is also a children’s blanket available.

Blanket Order Form

Commissioning Committee Establishes Scholarship

09. November 2018 · Comments Off on Commissioning Committee Establishes Scholarship · Categories: Committee Event, Other Event

The USS Colorado Commissioning Committee is proud to announce that we have established a $100,000 scholarship fund benefiting the crew and families of USS Colorado (SSN 788). This long-term goal of the Committee was made possible through the generous donations by citizens and companies of Colorado and others who contributed to their fundraising campaign. Each year two $ 2,000 scholarships may be awarded to crew members, former crew members or members of their families. The scholarship fund will be administered by the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation.

USS Colorado (SSN 788) is the 15th of the Virginia Class of attack submarines. She was commissioned in Groton, CT on March 17th, 2018. About 2,000 persons were present to witness this momentous event. The crew consists of about 120 enlisted and 14 officers who hail from all regions of the United States.

The Dolphin Scholarship Foundation was established in 1960 to assist children of the U.S. Submarine Force with college scholarships. Funds are raised through the financial support of submarine spouse organizations and the submarine community as well as support from individuals, corporations, memorial gifts and Combined Federal Campaign. 

The USS Colorado Commissioning Committee was founded in 2013 to generate support for the Commissioning and raise money to fund the traditional events surrounding that event. Part of the fundraising goal was to establish this scholarship fund. The Committee is in the process of creating a new organization to provide for long-term support of the crew and families for the duration of the planned 33-year lifespan of the boat.

The submarine Colorado is the fourth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the Colorado name.  The first USS Colorado (Screw Frigate) commissioned in 1858 was named after the Colorado River, the second USS Colorado (AC 7) was an armored cruiser commissioned in 1905, and the third USS Colorado (BB 45) was the lead ship of its class and was commissioned in 1923 and served with great distinction in World War II, earning seven battle stars for actions in the major campaigns of the Pacific theater. 

For more coverage of the scholarship fund see this Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Article

COLORADO Visits Kings Bay

06. November 2018 · Comments Off on COLORADO Visits Kings Bay · Categories: Boat Visit, Other Event

On the first weekend of November, USS Colorado (SSN 788) paid a port visit to King’s Bay, Georgia for some routine work. King’s Bay is the site of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, home port to several Ohio Class submarines. The visit coincided with the 30th annual Submarine Veterans of World War II Memorial held by the base. Commanding Officer, CDR Reed Koepp, and several of the crew were able to attend the ceremony. Over ten submarine veterans of the war were present and the principal speaker was retired Vice Admiral Al Konetzni who helped start the annual memorial when he was a Squadron Commander there in the ’80s.

Commissioning Committee Chairman, JJ Mackin, and his wife Florence were in King’s Bay for the Memorial and two submarine reunions. Since no Ohio Class were available for tours, COLORADO was the designated tour boat and hosted several hundred visitors on Thursday and Saturday. JJ and Florence were able to visit the boat to meet with the CO and meet the new Executive Officer, Matt Wolf, and new Chief of the Boat, “Chip” Alger.

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Commissioning Committee Hosts Other Events

27. March 2018 · Comments Off on Commissioning Committee Hosts Other Events · Categories: Commissioning, Other Event

In addition to the events on Saturday, the commissioning committee hosted a number of other events starting on Thursday. On Thursday evening they hosted a party for the crew featuring a New England clambake. About 500 of the crew, their families, former crew and Commissioning Committee attended. During the event the Commanding Officer, Commander Reed Koepp, presented dolphins to several of the ship’s crew and held a promotion ceremony for the new ship’s engineer, Derik Rothchild, to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. The Commissioning Committee took this opportunity to present plank owner plaques to the crew along with other gifts. The Committee donated to each crew member Spyder jackets embroidered with the ship’s crest, a coin set commemorating each of the key events in the ship’s construction, and a special silver coin minted with silver from Colorado.

On Friday a special brunch was held for the ship’s sponsor Annie Mabus and was hosted by Mrs. Mary Anne Pitts, wife of Rear Admiral Pitts, at their quarters on the Submarine Base. It was a small event, including her dad, former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, her Maid of Honor Jess Ladd, the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Chief of the Boat and their spouses. Representing Colorado were a few members of the Commissioning Committee as well as Larry Mizel, Chairman of Richmond American Homes Foundation, presenting sponsor for the committee events, Maj. Gen. Michael Lowe and his wife Diane, the Adjutant General of the State of Colorado.

In the afternoon another New England clambake was held for sponsors, major donors and special guests. The Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department on the Submarine Base did another fantastic job in serving this clambake. Approximately 400 people attended this event including Governor Hickenlooper, photographer John Fielder, sculptor George Lundeen, CEO of Left Hand Brewing, Eric Wallace, Annie Mabus and her dad, former Secretary of the Navy Mabus, Maj. Gen. Loh and Mrs. Loh and the veterans from battleship Colorado. During the day on Friday a number of people were given tours of the submarine.

That evening the Chairman’s Reception was held at the Mystic Marriott Hotel. There were about 400 people present to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine supplied by our Colorado sponsors. During the reception, Steffan Tubbs broadcast live on 710KNUS to his audience in Colorado as he interviewed members of the crew, Committee and other in attendance, including Governor Hickenlooper. To start off the program the Electric Boat singing group, the Subtones, sang several songs related to Colorado with a backdrop of John Fielder’s Colorado landscape photographs. Several sponsors and individuals presented gifts to the ship, including Julianne Hish who presented a stained-glass replica of the ship’s crest. The Commissioning Committee also presented several gifts including exercise equipment donated by TRX company and a special plaque with a challenge to the crew from battleship veterans that will be mounted in the boat. All the battleship veterans present joined onstage to present a specially engraved ship’s bell created by sculptor George Lundeen on behalf of the BB-45 Association.

Overall the activities of Commissioning Week were a memorable, once in a lifetime experience. All present seemed to overwhelmingly enjoy the events.

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USS Colorado Crest on Display at State Capitol

15. March 2018 · Comments Off on USS Colorado Crest on Display at State Capitol · Categories: Other Event

On Friday March 9th, several members of the Committee attended the unveiling of a plaque of the USS Colorado’s Crest that will be on permanent display at the State Capitol. This crest was donated and presented to thee Governor by the Colorado Thirty Group of Colorado Springs and is a replica of the one they donated to the boat which is now mounted in the Wardroom. State Senator Bob Gardner coordinated the presentation with Rep. Pete Lee and Rep. Larry Liston also making remarks in addition to Governor Hickenlooper. The Governor relayed that he was looking forward to the Commissioning next week and to touring USS Colorado. He also thanked the Committee for their work in getting ready for the commissioning. Attending from the Committee were JJ Mackin, Florence Mackin, Dan Puleio, Bruce Mardsen, Joe Mahaffee and Chris and Bruce Nielson. Also in attendance was Pat Meyers, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, long time supporter of the Committee and former submariner.

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