About Us
The IOWA Sub Club
Who and Why
We are the follow-on organization to the commissioning committee. A statewide organization made up of veterans, business leaders and individual supporters with a mission to support the morale and recreational welfare of the crew of the USS IOWA SSN 797 and the Family Readiness Group (FRG) throughout the lifecycle of the boat.
We are the ‘Boots on the Ground’ generating awareness of the crew!
Inaugural Officers:
President: Paul Jensen, Ruan Transportation
Vice President: Tom Hudson, Midwest Heritage Insurance
Treasurer: Tom O Donnell, retired
Secretary: Greg Cross, IA State University
More to come soon as we organize 1 year post-commissioning to support the boat, crew and families of SSN 797!
How
The state of Iowa has a rich history, and one of the ways the Sub Club have been supporting the crew has been sending Iowa pork, beef and fresh corn-on-the-cob to Connecticut for crew BBQ’s and other events, such as the boat’s birthday in August each year. By teaming up with other veteran service organizations in Groton, CT, we provide holiday hostings for sailors with single-family homes during the holidays.
Commissioning Committee
The Committee
The SSN 797 commissioning committee was a national network of strong supporters aligned with a common vision and goal: To raise broad awareness and generate deep support for the commissioning of the nuclear submarine bearing the proud name IOWA.
The mission of the commissioning committee was to generate the funds necessary to provide upgrades for the crew (habitability, recreation sports equipment) not funded by Congress. Read the Executive Directors letter here for more information regarding the fundraising effort.
Once initial upgrades are installed and complete, the Commissioning committee will sunset its activities in 2026 and transition all activity to the Iowa Sub Club.
The Ship's Sponsor
For centuries, U.S. Navy ships have had female sponsors who christened the vessels. It is said that the sponsor’s spirit and presence guides the ship throughout its life. Public officials and wives of senior naval officers serve as sponsors for many of the ships named after places.
Christie Vilsack wa selected to be the sponsor of USS IOWA. Her family background has a rich history of service in the US military as well as her husband, ormer Governor of Iowa and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
Born and raised in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Christie is a graduate and charter class member of Kirkland College in Clinton, New York. She earned a master’s degree in journalism from The University of Iowa. They have two married sons and four grandchildren. They have enjoyed a lifetime of public service together and continue to support efforts to improve domestic and international education and to foster prosperity in rural America.
Honorable Members
Larry Spencer, West Des Moines, IA, CDR, USN (ret) Vietnam POW
Kelly Sullivan, Waterloo, IA (USS Sullivans DD 68 ship’s sponsor)
David Farran, Waverly, IA USSVI District Commander
Board of Directors
Chairman
Doug MacCrea, CAPT USN (ret)
Executive Directors
Mat Tanner, FTC(SS) USN (ret), Command Liaison & Site Coordinator
Tom Hudson, NCC(SS) USN (ret), Operations & Administration
Fred Dorr, Fundraising
Caleb Schneider, Technology
Michelle Bell, Finance
Jordan Schneider, Communications
Bob Kirby, SubVets of Iowa Liaison
Paul Jensen, Logistics
Jonalee Ohrt, Secretary
Professional Services Members
Jonathan De Reus, Attorney, Grefe Sidney, Pella, IA
Isaacson-Syverson Consulting