USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Association leads the way in Commissioning planning and early preparation
Association makes appearance at Naval Submarine League Annual Symposium & Industry Update
Crystal City, VA (November 7, 2023) – The USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Association joined in the comradery and fanfare at the Naval Submarine League’s (NSL’s) Annual Symposium and Industry Update (ASIU) on November 7-8, 2023. The future submarine USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) is the second in class of the COLUMBIA (SSBN 826) Class submarines and will play a critical role in the nation’s defense as part of the nuclear deterrence strategic triad.
“The USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Association is setting the standard and leading the way in Commissioning planning and early preparation”, said CAPT Tim Oliver, USN (Ret), Naval Submarine League’s Executive Director. “I’m delighted that the Association could join us at the Symposium! They are a model for Submarine Clubs – forming early and engaging potential donors to help support the future crews of USS WISCONSIN.”
L to R, Kathy DiMaggio (USS Wisconsin SSBN 827 Association Board of Directors), Dr. Kelly Geurts (Ship’s Sponsor), Lisa Phillips (USS Wisconsin SSBN 827 Association Board of Directors), CAPT Mark Parrella (DISTRICT of COLUMBIA (SSBN 826) Class Program Manager), The Hon Jim “Hondo” Geurts, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition at the Naval Submarine League’s Annual Symposium and Industry Update in Crystal City, Virginia, November 2023.
In the finest of Navy traditions, a ship’s sponsor “gives a part of her personality to the ship” to bestow “good luck and divine protection.” Dr. Kelly Geurts is the ship’s sponsor and she looks forward to the shipbuilding milestones over the next decade. “While my official duties have not yet begun, I am excited to be a part of the USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Association’s and the NSL’s events in Crystal City this week. I look forward to meeting the men and women in the Navy and in industry, both from Wisconsin and from the rest of the country, who are building the future USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) so I can be that much closer to the ship.”
L to R, Kathy DiMaggio (USS Wisconsin SSBN 827 Association Board of Directors), Dr. Kelly Geurts (Ship’s Sponsor), Lisa Phillips (USS Wisconsin SSBN 827 Association Board of Directors), CAPT Mark Parrella (DISTRICT of COLUMBIA (SSBN 826) Class Program Manager), The Hon Jim “Hondo” Geurts, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition at the Naval Submarine League’s Annual Symposium and Industry Update in Crystal City, Virginia, November 2023.
“The NSL ASIU provides our Association with a visible connection with industry, an opportunity to meet new supporters and get the word out about Wisconsin” said Ms. Lisa Phillips, a member of the USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Association Board of Directors and an industry partner. The Badger State of Wisconsin has a rich heritage of shipbuilding to support the Navy and continues to make significant contributions to the nation’s defense, with nearly 350 businesses in Wisconsin providing goods or services in support of construction of COLUMBIA Class submarines. The Association has had great support from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin legislature. Wisconsin State Representative Kevin Peterson, a retired submariner, successfully supported legislation to provide a small increment of funding for the USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) Association in the state’s bi-annual budget. According to Ms. Lisa Phillips, “our Association has used these funds to advance our objective of connecting the great people of Wisconsin with their future namesake submarine, the USS WISCONSIN (SSBN 827) – we are off and running!”