The HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel for the Virginia-class attack submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802) on Aug. 2, 2023, marking an important milestone in the vessel’s construction.
NNS President Jennifer Boykin referred to such Navy traditions: “The nuclear submarines we build help ensure our peace and freedoms, and we take great pride in being a nuclear shipyard.” This underlines the importance of these submarines as part of national defense.
Mary “Molly” Slavonic was born in Oklahoma and is the ship’s sponsor. A lifetime commitment to her home state and the Navy has led Slavonic, along with her husband, former acting Under Secretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic, to play a crucial role in developing the USS Oklahoma BB 37 Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
During today’s keel authentication ceremony, NNS welder Alex VanCampen stamped Slavonic’s initials onto a metal plate, declaring the keel of SSN 802 “truly and fairly laid.” The plate will stay with the submarine for its entire operational life. Slavonic said she felt honored to be the sponsor: “This milestone marks the beginning of what will be a lifelong bond between my family and Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma is the 29th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the first of Block V, offering more firepower, maneuverability, and stealth capability than ever before. Cmdr. Aaron Stutzman, commanding officer of the pre-commissioning unit, also highlighted the significance of the day, adding, “This important step brings to life Congress’ charge in our constitution to maintain a Navy.”
Only two yards in the country have the resources and talent to design and build nuclear-powered submarines like the Oklahoma; NNS is one of them. The Virginia-class submarines, of which Oklahoma is a part, represent the state-of-the-art achievements in naval engineering, driven by a response to increasingly complex maritime threats.
As Oklahoma approaches its commissioning, it remains a beacon of what has been the enduring legacy and future strength of the U.S. Navy in defense of the security and interests of the nation worldwide.