Commanding Officer: Cmdr. Dan Caldwell
Executive Officer: Lt. Cmdr. Douglas Dreese
COB: CSCS (SS) David Veneszee
Engineer: Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Coudray
Navigation/Operations: Lt. Cmdr. Brian Souder
Engineering Department Master Chief: MMCM Jimmy Hall
Background: Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John Warner (SSN 785) is named in honor of Virginia Senator John Warner for his lifetime of service to the Navy and the nation.
Senator Warner enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II in January 1945, shortly before his 18th birthday. He served until the following year, leaving as a Petty Officer 3rd Class. He went to college at Washington and Lee University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, graduating in 1949; he then entered the University of Virginia Law School. He joined the Marine Corps in October 1950, after the outbreak of the Korean War, and served in Korea as a ground officer with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He continued in the Marine Corps Reserves after the war, eventually reaching the rank of captain. He then resumed his studies, taking courses at the George Washington University, and then receiving his law degree in 1953. Senator Warner was appointed Undersecretary of the Navy in February 1969 under the Nixon administration and succeeded John H. Chafee as Secretary of the Navy in May 1972. He represented the Commonwealth of Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 2009 where he was a leader in national defense issues, serving continuously on the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He held leadership roles as Chairman or Ranking Member for half of his tenure on this committee and also served many years on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. In this capacity, and throughout his career, Senator Warner showed unwavering support for the men and women of the armed forces and was a champion of modernizing the structure and operations of the military to ensure its effectiveness in the 21st century.
PCU JOHN WARNER (SSN-785) is a Virginia Class Attack Submarine that will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. It will have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable its crew to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements. PCU JOHN WARNER (SSN-785) will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, mine delivery and minefield mapping. It is also designed for the delivery and support of special operations forces, a subject Senator Warner worked on throughout his career in the U.S. Senate.
Virginia-class submarines are 7,800-tons and 377 feet long, have a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. They are designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship – reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. PCU JOHN WARNER (SSN-785) is under construction by Huntington Ingalls-Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia in partnership with General Dynamics/Electric Boat Corporation. Senator Warner was instrumental in developing this construction-teaming concept which was later codified into law.
Related Stories:
Nov. 30, 2012 - First Sailors Report to PCU John Warner
Jan. 8, 2009 - Navy Names Virginia Class Submarine USS John Warner