The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Martin Dempsey, paid a visit June 30 to the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, during a mission to the island in conjunction with the world’s largest international maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Chairman Dempsey, the highest ranking military officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, came aboard the submarine for a firsthand look at the technology of today’s submarine force and to thank the Sailors for their service.
“It’s really helpful for me, coming aboard, seeing and talking with this great crew. To be able to go back and talk about the human impact of our decisions,” said Dempsey. “Now, I can go back and speak with added perspective. It’s great.”
The commanding officer of North Carolina, Cmdr. Gary Montalvo, reviewed with the Chairman the ship and her capabilities, and the dynamic ability to shift from one type of mission platform to another in a short amount of time.
Commissioned May 2008, North Carolina is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to carry the name North Carolina. The Virginia-class boat was built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division in Groton, Connecticut, and Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, and joined the fleet in December 2006.
[mappress] Press Release, July 02, 2014; Image: US Navy