The crew of the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) recently welcomed members of the Air Force Civic Leader program as they toured the submarine at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oct. 16.
The group, comprised of approximately 30 civilian community leaders from across the United States, serves as a volunteer advisory panel to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Mark Welsh III. The group’s purpose in Hawaii was to learn more about the Pacific Rebalance, and experience a firsthand look at multiple service operations in the Pacific.
The group was escorted by the vice commander of Pacific Air Forces, Maj. Gen. Paul McGillicuddy, and his wife MaryJo, and Brig. Gen. Kathleen Cook, director of Air Force Public Affairs.
During the tour, Sailors talked about their spaces, their responsibilities, and duties aboard the submarine. The guests had the opportunity to see and hear about daily operations on the submarine including the control room, the torpedo room, and galley.
USS Columbus is the 51st Los Angeles-class submarine and the 12th improved version of this class, which includes a vertical launch system for Tomahawk cruise missiles and an improved hull design for under-ice operations. She completed a post-shipyard maintenance availability period in June 1994 in Groton, Connecticut, after initial construction and shakedown operations. In September 1994, USS Columbus conducted an inter-fleet transfer to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force.
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Press release, Image: US Navy