CHAIRMAN'S CORNER
Update from the Chairman
2nd Quarter 2026
In my last update, I discussed the Christening Ceremony. As USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) moves closer to entering service, many people ask: What is commissioning?
A commissioning ceremony is the moment a ship officially joins the United States Navy. It marks the transition from construction and testing to active service. For the crew, it begins a new chapter of duty. For the Navy, it adds a powerful new capability. For the nation, it continues a tradition that reaches back to our founding.
For USS District of Columbia, the significance is even greater. As the lead ship of the Columbia Class, this ship represents the future of our nation’s sea-based strategic deterrent. For decades, ballistic missile submarines have carried out one of the most important missions in our defense strategy, helping preserve peace through strength.
The sailors who serve aboard USS District of Columbia will inherit that responsibility.
Commissioning ceremonies are unique because they bring together the communities that make a ship possible—sailors, shipbuilders, Navy leaders, families, veterans, industry partners, and citizens. They remind us that while a ship is built in a yard, it is sustained by the support of a nation.
This is where the Commissioning Committee plays an important role. The USS District of Columbia Commissioning Committee was established to support the commissioning of this historic submarine and strengthen the connection between the ship, her crew, and the citizens of the District of Columbia. Our mission goes beyond planning a ceremony. We aim to educate, inspire, and build lasting relationships throughout the life of the ship.
Through educational outreach, STEM initiatives, community engagement, fundraising, and support for the crew and their families, the committee is helping ensure that USS District of Columbia enters service with a strong bond to the community whose name she carries.
The commissioning ceremony itself will last only a few hours. The legacy of USS District of Columbia will endure for decades. Long after the ceremony ends, generations of sailors will serve aboard this submarine, carrying forward a mission essential to our nation’s security. The relationships and traditions established today will become part of the ship’s history and heritage.
The commissioning of USS District of Columbia will be far more than a ceremony. It will be the moment America welcomes the first Columbia Class submarine into the fleet and celebrates the sailors who will carry her mission forward for generations.
We invite you to join us on this historic journey.
A commissioning ceremony is the moment a ship officially joins the United States Navy. It marks the transition from construction and testing to active service. For the crew, it begins a new chapter of duty. For the Navy, it adds a powerful new capability. For the nation, it continues a tradition that reaches back to our founding.
For USS District of Columbia, the significance is even greater. As the lead ship of the Columbia Class, this ship represents the future of our nation’s sea-based strategic deterrent. For decades, ballistic missile submarines have carried out one of the most important missions in our defense strategy, helping preserve peace through strength.
The sailors who serve aboard USS District of Columbia will inherit that responsibility.
Commissioning ceremonies are unique because they bring together the communities that make a ship possible—sailors, shipbuilders, Navy leaders, families, veterans, industry partners, and citizens. They remind us that while a ship is built in a yard, it is sustained by the support of a nation.
This is where the Commissioning Committee plays an important role. The USS District of Columbia Commissioning Committee was established to support the commissioning of this historic submarine and strengthen the connection between the ship, her crew, and the citizens of the District of Columbia. Our mission goes beyond planning a ceremony. We aim to educate, inspire, and build lasting relationships throughout the life of the ship.
Through educational outreach, STEM initiatives, community engagement, fundraising, and support for the crew and their families, the committee is helping ensure that USS District of Columbia enters service with a strong bond to the community whose name she carries.
The commissioning ceremony itself will last only a few hours. The legacy of USS District of Columbia will endure for decades. Long after the ceremony ends, generations of sailors will serve aboard this submarine, carrying forward a mission essential to our nation’s security. The relationships and traditions established today will become part of the ship’s history and heritage.
The commissioning of USS District of Columbia will be far more than a ceremony. It will be the moment America welcomes the first Columbia Class submarine into the fleet and celebrates the sailors who will carry her mission forward for generations.
We invite you to join us on this historic journey.
Fair winds and following seas!
David Goggins
RADM (Ret) USN
Commissioning Committee Chairman
RADM (Ret) USN
Commissioning Committee Chairman