Officer in Charge - Cmdr. Douglas Gordon
Executive Officer - Lt. Cmdr. Kristopher Lancaster
Chief of the Boat - ETCM(SS/DV) Timothy A. Preabt
Pre-Commissioning Unit North Dakota (SSN-784) will be the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the state of North Dakota. The contract to build her was awarded to Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, Conn. on Aug. 14, 2003.
SSN-784 through approximately SSN-791 are planned to make up the Third Block or "Flight" with North Dakota as the first of the Block III subs which will feature a revised bow, including some technology from Ohio class SSGNs.
Members of the USS North Dakota Committee announced at a press conference July 14, 2008, that for the first time since 1923, a USS North Dakota will be part of the nation's fleet.
The selection of the North Dakota, designated SSN 784, honors the state's citizens and veterans and their strong military support and heritage from the Frontier Wars through the Cold War and currently the war on terrorism. Seventeen North Dakotans have received the Medal of Honor for actions in combat, including Master Sgt. Woodrow W. Keeble who posthumously received the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony on March 3, 2008. This is the second ship to bear the name North Dakota. The first ship, the Delaware-class USS North Dakota, was in service from 1910 through 1923.
"There hasn't been a ship named after the State of North Dakota in 85 years," said Governor John Hoeven. More than 1,000 colored pictures were presented to the Secretary of the Navy, Donald Winter, which impressed him with the grassroots effort the state made toward the naming a ship after North Dakota.
"This is a proud day for all North Dakotans," Senator Kent Conrad said. "Throughout our nation's history, North Dakota has enjoyed a well-earned reputation for producing some of our nation's bravest servicemen and women. The USS North Dakota is a lasting and well-deserved tribute to all of our state's veterans, as well as those serving in uniform today."
"Having a submarine bear our state's name will be a fitting tribute to all North Dakotans who serve in the U.S. military," Congressman Earl Pomeroy said. "I commend Senator Dorgan for leading the charge to again have a USS North Dakota sail the high seas."
Senators Dorgan and Conrad, Congressman Pomeroy and Governor Hoeven led a delegation in June, 2008 in a meeting with Navy Secretary Donald Winter at the Pentagon. The group outlined a plan for how North Dakota will support the ship and its crew. They said that after so many decades, the time is right for the Navy to name a new ship after North Dakota.
Information courtesy of Defense.gov
and the Governor of North Dakota's website:
http://governor.nd.gov
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