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.

Visit with Congressmen Ed Perlmutter

05. August 2015 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized

Visit with Congressman Perlmutter

Yesterday we had the opportunity to brief Congressman Perlmutter of Colorado’s 7th Congressional District about USS Colorado. We did this in conjunction with Navy League of the United States program to periodically brief Congress on state of naval affairs from NLUS viewpoint. Rick Martin delivered the NLUS presentation and Committee Chair ‘JJ’ Mackin delivered information about USS Colorado. Dan Puleio, former NLUS Denver Council President, was also in attendance.

It was a great visit and we appreciate the Congressman’s time he spent with us.

History Colorado to Feature USS Colorado Artifacts / Opening Reception

08. July 2015 · Comments Off · Categories: Committee Event, Uncategorized

On July 29 History Colorado will feature artifacts from previous USS Colorado’s. This is a collaborative effort between History Colorado, Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program, Metro State University, Colorado Newspapers in Education and USS Colorado (SSN 788) Commissioning Committee.

As part of this display there will be teacher’s workshops to help bring USS Colorado into the classroom.

To celebrate this event there will be a reception on July 29th from 5 PM until 8 PM entitled “An evening with Historians, Scholars and Veterans” which is open to the public. The schedule includes a social hour, a panel discussion of historians and veterans and an open visit of the museum. Hors d’ouvres will be provided and a cash bar will be available. Cost of the event is $25 per person. For more information and to sign up, please visit: www.ColoradoNIE.com/USSColorado/ (Part 3)

History Colorado Center is located at 1200 Broadway in Denver.

Junior Division Ship’s Crest Contest Winner Announced

09. June 2015 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized

The crew of PCU Colorado (SSN 788) has selected the design of Vance Vino, 11, of Superior as the winner of the Junior Division of the Ship’s Crest Design Contest. Vance is a fifth grade student at Global Village Academy in Northglenn. His teacher last year was Committee Member Candice Green. In a ceremony held on June 8, the Committee presented him with a letter of congratulations from the Commanding Officer PCU Colorado, a $100 bill, as well as a USS Colorado ball cap and coin. The award was presented by USS Colorado Committee members JJ Mackin, Candice Green, Dick Cooper, Dan Puleio, Shauna King, and Sebastian King. Vance was accompanied by his parents, John and Jenniffer Veno. Also in attendance was the school’s principal, Liza Pond, along with other staff members, students, and parents.

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Captain and Crew to Visit Colorado

23. April 2015 · Comments Off · Categories: Crew VIsit, Uncategorized

CDR Ken Franklin, Commanding Officer PCU Colorado, and 4 members of the crew will visit Colorado next week for a series of events. On Wednesday evening there will be a reception at the Governor’s Residence where the winner of the Ship’s Crest Design Contest will be announced. Earlier that day there will be a luncheon event at the Malo Mansion. Both events will host military, government and business leaders from across the state of Colorado.

On Thursday, CDR Franklin and his crew will get a tour of the Broncos facility at Dove Valley, visit local schools and visit artifacts of the battleship USS Colorado (BB 45) located on the CU Boulder campus.

COLORADO (SSN 788) Keel Laying Ceremony

09. March 2015 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized

The Keel Laying Ceremony for COLORADO (SSN 788) was held on Saturday March 7 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset facility in North Kingston, RI. It was a great event! A number of speakers paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of the shipbuilders of Electric Boat and Newport News as well as the officers and crew of COLORADO. The ship’s sponsor Annie Mabus was introduced by her father, Ray Mabus Secretary of the Navy. She gave a heartfelt speech expressing her gratitude and appreciation for the honor and her happiness at being part of the Navy family. There were a number of attendees from Colorado. Secretary of State Wayne Williams was the official representative from the state and presented a state flag to the Commanding Officer, CDR Ken Franklin.

Also in attendance from Colorado were former State Senator Bernie Herpin and former State Representative Spence Swalm, co-sponsors of the USS Colorado License Plate Bill, Jared and Jonathan Veteto, owners of Cogitic, a submarine parts manufacturer in Colorado Springs and sponsors of the Ship’s Crest Design Contest, Committee member Dana Plewka of the Denver Post and Committee Chair JJ Mackin.

We will post pictures as we receive them from Electric Boat.The New London Day posted several pictures of the ceremony as well as an article about the event. Navy.mil has posted a picture and Electric Boat has an online video of the ceremony.

Pictures of the program for the Keel Laying are below.