Washington Watch

In March of this year, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered a new study of attack Submarine Force levels as a follow-up to the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). Its goal is to determine the number of SSNs required for peacetime forward presence, national tasking, and warfighting in the 2015-2025 time frame. In determining this future need, the study will assess the importance of stealth in littoral regions and whether submarines will be required to assume new roles because of the vulnerability of other platforms. It will also build on previous force level analysis and the Defense Science Board’s recent study on the Submarine of the Future. In the context of the total DoD budget, affordability will be a major consideration. The Joint Staff (J8) will lead the study, with participation by the Offices of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (A&T), the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Program Appraisal and Evaluation (PA&E). The Defense Intelligence Agency and the Navy – particularly the Submarine Warfare Division (N87) in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations – will also assist. The results of the study are expected to be briefed to the Secretary of Defense in spring 1999.

The third and final Seawolf (SSN-21)-class nuclear attack submarine has been officially named Jimmy Carter (SSN-23). Secretary of the Navy John Dalton and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jay Johnson presented this honor to the 39th President of the United States in a Pentagon ceremony on 27 April 1998.

Secretary of the Navy Dalton presenting former
President Jimmy Carter a model of PCU Jimmy Carter

A 1947 graduate of the Naval Academy, President Carter is the only U.S. President to have served aboard submarines. As a young naval officer, President Carter “was hand selected by Admiral Hyman Rickover to be part of an incredible journey to forge our Nuclear Navy,” Secretary Dalton said. “It was almost 50 years ago that then-Lieutenant Carter reported to the submarine USS Seawolf – one of the Navy’s two nuclear prototype submarines – as her senior officer.” He added, “You probably thought at the time, Mr. President, that USS Seawolf (SSN-575) would be your last submarine. I am honored to dispel that thought with a new improved Seawolf, named USS Jimmy Carter.”

President Carter accepted the honor by saying: “If I had a choice between a submarine and an airport, I would choose a submarine.” Secretary Dalton also named Rosalynn Carter as Ship’s Sponsor of the Jimmy Carter. “It has been said that the Sponsor imbues a ship with her own spirit,” said Dalton, “thereby bringing a special personality and mystique to the vessel and its crew.”

In a 4 May 1998 ceremony at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense William Cohen presented the New Attack Submarine (NSSN) Program Office the David Packard Award for Excellence in Acquisition. This is the second time in three years that the NSSN program has received this prestigious award. Moreover, NSSN is one of the first Defense acquisition programs to apply the Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) method in system design and development. According to the accompanying citation, “The New Attack Submarine Program has been innovative, flexible, and efficient in designing the next generation nuclear attack submarine. Working in an environment of constantly changing priorities, the design/build teams have successfully applied innovative approaches to achieve their objectives.” Congratulations to the NSSN Team!

Secretary of Defense William Cohen presents Captain Dave Burgess,
NSSN Program Manager (PMS450), the David Packard Award.

Congratulations to the NSSN Team!

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