The Boat

SSBN-826

The first of its class of the largest and most advanced ballistic missile submarines ever built by the United States.
The Mission

The Columbia Class SSBN will provide the most survivable leg of our nation’s strategic triad and ensure continuous sea-based strategic deterrence into the 2080s.

The Design

The Columbia Class SSBN was designed to have a longer service life, better operational availability, and better survivability than their predecessors.

Displacement
20,800
Long Tons
Length
560
Feet
Hull Diameter
43
Feet
Crew Size
155
Mixed Gender
Diving Depth
800+
Feet
Speed
20+
Knots
Weapon System
16
Trident II DS5 (LE)
Service Life
42
Years
Construction Update

Delivery of First Columbia-Class Bow

The bow of the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) left Newport News Shipbuilding en route General Dynamics Electric Boat, where the submarine will be assembled and tested.
View construction timeline
SSBN-826

The Crew

Operating the most advanced submarine in our nation requires the Navy’s best and brightest Officers, Chiefs, and Sailors in the world so we’re pleased to introduce the leadership and crew of the USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826).
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SSBN-826

Deciphering the Crest

Navy tradition requires that each ship of the United States Navy have its own distinct coat of arms, which reflects both the heritage embodied in the ship’s namesake and its future mission objectives. Learn what the crest for SSBN-826 means.
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The Sponsors

By tradition, the sponsor is a female civilian who is invited by the Secretary of the Navy to bestow good luck and divine protection over the seagoing vessel and all that sail aboard. We are pleased to introduce them here.

Congresswoman

Eleanor Holmes Norton

A third generation Washingtonian, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has been serving her constituents since 1991. She arrived in Congress as a nationally recognized civil rights and feminist leader, tenured Professor of Law, and a Board Member at three Fortune 500 companies.

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Mayor

Muriel Bowser

Mayor Muriel Bowser is the seventh elected mayor of Washington, D.C. Having served her hometown in elected office since 2004 and Mayor since 2015, she became only the second person elected three times as mayor of Washington, D.C. on 8 November 2023.

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Learn more about our sponsors

"As a third-generation Washingtonian, I am excited and honored to be the sponsor of the future USS Columbia. I look forward to meeting and establishing relationships with the men and women who will serve aboard her."

Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congresswoman
The Namesake - Washington, DC

The name USS District of Columbia honors the long and rich history of the Navy in the District

The District of Columbia is rich with naval history. The Washington Navy Yard is our oldest shore facility. Marines like Montford Point Marine Herman Darden and Brigadier General Anthony Henderson and Sailors like Yeoman Charlotte Louise Berry Winters and Medal of Honor Recipient First Class Fireman John Rush were born and raised in D.C. This is why I prefer to call D.C. not just our nation’s capital, but instead, our naval capital. The naming of the USS District of Columbia honors this.

—Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, 3 June 2022 Press Release
We invite you to learn more about the incredible people, the places, and the events within the District of Columbia that contributed to creating the world’s most powerful Navy.
Learn more about our Namesake
Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM) for Submarines

Managing non-nuclear production and overall execution for the Virginia-Class and Columbia-Class Submarine Programs.

Director, Submarine Programs

Vice Admiral Robert M. “Rob” Gaucher

Vice Admiral Robert M. “Rob” Gaucher is the Director, Submarine Programs (DSP). Gaucher is responsible for all acquisition and sustainment of the United States’ underwater deterrent.

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Director, Design and Construction

Rear Admiral Jonathan (Jon) E. Rucker

In April 2026, RADM Jonathan (Jon) Rucker shifted to be the Director, Design and Construction, in Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, Submarines, where he is responsible for design and construction of all submarines.

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Program Manager

Captain R. Keith Oswald

Captain Oswald reported as the Program Manager of the COLUMBIA Class Submarine Program (PMS-397) in January 2026.

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