THE ATOMIC PROJECT A Newsletter produced by the Commissioning Committee of the USS HYMAN G. RICKOVER (SSN-795) Spring Issue 2 April 1, 2021 he was specifically requested by USS INDIANA to come back in 2021 to support the ship’s tactical certification. An outstanding Sonar Technician, Castro has the experience and judgment of a senior operator, and has been placed into Sonar Supervisor Qualifications, a crucial safety of ship watch station. And finally, we had Machinist Mate Nuclear Second Class Tyler Lavrinc who was selected for advancement to First Class Petty Officer. Up to now, Petty Officer Lavrinc has played a central role in the Engineering Department’s success throughout the propulsion plant test program. As the Machinery Division’s training petty officer, he implemented an UPDATE FROM THE BOAT in the Auxiliary Machinery Room, aggressive training plan that ensured which is normally manned by senior his peers were ready to perform STATUS OF OUR PERSONNEL: Sailors. Based on his proficiency once-in-a-lifetime testing and had the in operating the systems under his knowledge to qualify and perform at- We had an opportunity to recognize cognizance, Holland was selected sea watch stations. As an Engineering three outstanding Sailors selected as NORTH DAKOTA’s Battlestations Department section leader, he led his by the commanding officer for and Maneuvering Watch Auxiliaryman 15-person section through multiple advancement during this cycle’s of the Watch. Finally, not willing to shift-work test programs. Lavrinc also Meritorious Advancement Program. rest on his laurels, Holland received implemented a plan for a “tiger team” The program is intended to give permission to start standing pilot and to complete a test program which commands greater authority to better co-pilot under instruction watches. precluded the entire Engineering shape their workforce and the Navy by The responsibilities for these watches Department from having to enter shift- developing and rewarding their best are usually reserved for senior First work, thus saving the command from talent. Class Petty Officers or Chief Petty having to expend more than 3,000 Officers because they involve tasks man-hours. First, we had Machinist Mate Auxiliary associated with maneuvering of the Fireman John Holland who was ship. continued on page 3 selected for advancement to Third Class Petty Officer. Petty Officer Second, we have Sonar Technician Holland just returned to RICKOVER Submarines Third Class Marcos The USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795) following nearly a year of temporary Castro who was advanced to Second Commissioning Committee is a division duty onboard USS NORTH DAKOTA Class Petty Officer. In 2020, Castro of the Armed Forces Council of Chicago where he gained invaluable experience volunteered to deploy aboard the USS (AFCC), which is sponsored by the Union League Club of Chicago to honor and in operating the ship’s non-nuclear INDIANA to support an undermanned support America’s Armed Forces. The mechanical systems responsible for division during missions vital to AFCC is a tax-exempt organization under steering, diving, and controlling the national security. While deployed section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue atmosphere. While onboard NORTH aboard the ship he rapidly qualified Code, and donations are deductible to the DAKOTA, Petty Officer Holland for advanced watchstations. Castro extent permitted by law. qualified as senior-in-rate watch made such a positive impression, that 1 Spring Issue 2 April 1, 2021 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN: Dear Friends of the United States are expected to be held in internet connection. Our past Navy: Groton, Connecticut. programs were recorded and are on You Tube, accessible by As the Chairman of the One of our recent projects links from our website. Commissioning Committee has been to collect stories for the USS HYMAN G. from people who had personal We are currently engaged in RICKOVER (SSN-795), I have interactions with Admiral raising the funds needed to had the pleasure of working Rickover. The admiral was carry out our mission. On our with members of the crew well known for his unusual website, you can see those of the RICKOVER, civilian interviews of prospective who have already stepped Navy personnel and the nuclear officers before they up to financially support us, members of our Committee as were accepted into the nuclear and can learn how you can we work toward celebrating program, as well for as his join this group of patriotic the commissioning of the oversized impact on the Navy individuals and organizations. RICKOVER in 2022. As you generally and on the navies of Our donors will be recognized may know, the Committee’s other nations. I encourage you immediately on our website for mission is to raise awareness to visit our website at https:// their support, and later at the of the RICKOVER in the civilian ussrickover.org/ and read the commissioning, and depending community, to provide the “Rickover Recollections” that on the level of the donor’s RICKOVER a proper send- we have collected. For those support, there will be thank you off at the commissioning, of you who had a personal gifts and invitation-only events to enhance the morale and experience with Admiral as further recognition and welfare of the RICKOVER’s Rickover and have not yet thanks. Please visit our website crew and their families as the submitted your recollection of to see how you can support our RICKOVER begins service in that experience, the website mission by becoming a sponsor defense of our nation, and to also includes instructions on of the commissioning through honor the legacy and impact how to submit a recollection to a tax-deductible donation to the of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, us. work of our Committee. Father of the Nuclear Navy. Also, please watch for our Sincerely, As we emerge from the speakers’ programs on timely effects of the coronavirus on topics of interest to supporters our society, the schedule for of the Navy. We have had the RICKOVER is becoming two programs so far, one on William Nissen clearer. The christening of “Understanding Naval Power Chairman the boat is now expected in our 21st Century,” presented USS HYMAN G. RICKOVER to occur on July 31, 2021. by retired Vice Admiral John Commissioning Committee This is, however, subject J. Donnelly, and one on to change if there are “Operational Readiness: ICK G. R OVE N R ( A SS unexpected developments Maintaining the Fleet for YM LXIII N H - 7 in the construction process Great Power Competition,” S 9 S 5 ) or other factors that prevent presented by retired Admiral U the christening from going Cecil D. Haney. Watch our ahead on this schedule. The website for our next program. C O E commissioning is expected to The programs are held using E M T M IT take place in the early to middle Zoom technology so that they ISS M ION COM part of 2022. Both ceremonies are available to anyone with an ING 2 Spring Issue 2 April 1, 2021 continued from page 1 reached the milestone of “pressure percent of its territory, however those hull complete,” meaning that all of regions constitute almost 40 percent MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION the ship’s hull sections were joined of our population. Coastal population STATUS: to form a single, watertight unit. This density is increasing in America and procedure is a major milestone ahead around the world. More than two- PCU HYMAN G RICKOVER (SSN- of the submarine’s christening and thirds of all people on earth live within 795) is in the 66th month of a float-off. We are currently working 250 miles of a coastline. Sea power scheduled 70 month construction through propulsion plant testing protects America’s sovereignty and the period. It is expected that the ship in order to support leaving the homeland from attack. will end up with an overall 77 month construction hall this summer and construction period, with delivery to go in waterborne. Christening is Having laid out the rationale for the fleet in the first quarter of calendar scheduled for July 31, 2021 and we year 2022. having a strong Navy, Donnelly expect have an outdoor event with the next highlighted some of the global ship in the water. On September 8, 2020, the ship challenges and risks the U.S. faces in terms of its two primary global competitors: Russia and China. Pointing to effects of global warming on the melting of the Arctic icecap, Donnelly displayed a map of the icecap showing current location of active Russian military installations along the northern sea route and compared the capabilities gap between U.S. and Russian vessels that can operate in the Arctic. Currently, the U.S. has two icebreakers while Russia operates 40. The Arctic is a geopolitical convergence point. Without new investment in Arctic capabilities, Russia’s influence will greatly enlarge. The risk to the U.S. in this situation will be less protection for UNDERSTANDING NAVAL POWER IN THE 21ST CENTURY our commercial and scientific vessels, On October 15, 2020, the involve our international “connections” ineffective enforcement of international Commissioning Committee was and “security.” According to Donnelly, law, and an increasing threat to our honored to hear from retired Vice Adm. the relations we have with our Allies national security. Jay Donnelly, former commander, and Partners depend on our naval Submarine Forces/commander, capabilities, “The U.S. joint force With regard to China, Donnelly Submarine Force Atlantic/commander, and the militaries of our allies and pointed to the long disputed claims Allied Submarine Command, on partners rely on the Navy’s war- the Peoples Republic of China have the topic of why we need a strong fighting capabilities and access made on the maritime boundaries and Navy, during a presentation entitled to secure sea lanes.