Events

Major Milestones

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  • Keel Laid & Construction Begins!

    The ceremonial Keel was formally laid down by Electric Boat in Quonset Point Rhode Island.  Per tradition, the shipyard welder will weld the initials of the ship’s sponsor (Christie Vilsack) onto a plate of steel, which in turn will be fabricated into a portion of the hull.  The initials ACV (Ann Christie Vilsack) will be permanently be part of the IOWA hull. 

  • Christening

    Currently Planned for early May 2023 in Groton CT at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division.  This is the ceremonial ‘bottle of bubbly’ being broken over the hull of the boat by ship’s sponsor Christie Vilsack.  The Christening is a shipyard controlled event with very limited open tickets.  The event will be Live Streamed and the commissioning committee intends to sponsor watch parties across the state of Iowa. Stay Tuned!  

  • The Commissioning

    With the Sponsor ordering the Captain to “Man your Ship and bring Her to Life!’, the commissioning is currently planned for late 2023 or early 2024 and will most likely be held in Groton, Connecticut.  Organized by the Navy, the commissioning is generally open to the public and will be Lived Streamed as well.  The Commissioning Committee will make every effort possible to open this event to as many IOWAN’s as possible.  Watch parties for the Live Streaming will be set up across the state and hosted by the Commissioning Committee. 

Past and Upcoming Events

Veterans Day 2022 – Commanding Officer visits Central Iowa

Nov 11, 2022

Altoona , IA

Commanding Officer Matt Powell and Chief of the Boat Dexter Buckley plan to attend the Veterans Day Celebrations held at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, IA – More information at this link

Governor proclaims USS IOWA Submarine Month

Aug 15, 2022

In a proclamation signing held on the front porch of the historic State Fair Admin building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Governor Kim Reynolds read and proclaimed August as the USS IOWA Submarine Month.

Joining Governor Reynolds was Lt Governor Adam Gregg, Ship’s Sponsor Christie Vilsack, PCU IOWA Commanding Officer CDR Matt Powell, Aux Chief Clay Huckaba, Sonar Petty Officer Adam Furrow, Electrician Petty Officer Steve Morton, members from the IOWA Commissioning Committee and other local area Submarine Veterans of IOWA members.

proclamation signing

Commanding Officer & Crew visit IA State Fair

Aug 15, 2022

PCU IOWA Commanding Officer Matt Powell and select crew members visited the 2022 IA State Fair Monday Aug 15 for Veterans Day at the Fair.

During the visit, CDR Powell visited the IA Pork Producers tent and enjoyed amongst other things ‘maple glazed bacon’ on a stick. Pictured here with Ship’s Sponsor Christie Vilsack

IOWA CO Matt Powell enjoying pork belly on a stick

Iowa Crew visits for Memorial Day

May 27, 2022

Van Meter , Iowa

LCDR Kevin O’Malley and LTJG Pat Rafferty visit Iowa in support of Memorial Day events held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Captain James visits State Capitol

January 18,2022

Des Moines, Iowa

Captain Quintin James visited Iowa January 18-20 for the Veterans Day Rally Celebrations, held at the state Capitol.

Christie Vilsack participates in a keel signing ceremony

August 20, 2019

Quonset Point, RI

Ship’s sponsor Christie Vilsack participates in a keel signing ceremony at the Electric Boat facility

Ceremony Celebrating USS Iowa Naming

September 05, 2015

Secretary Ray Mabus hosts ceremony to commemorate the naming of the next Iowa legacy warship, the USS Iowa SSN 797