Keel Laid for Future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827), Second Columbia-Class Submarine

The United States Navy marked a significant milestone on August 27, 2025, with the keel-laying ceremony for the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827). The event took place at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in Kingstown, Rhode Island, signifying the transition of the vessel from design to construction.

This ceremony represents more than a tradition—it is the symbolic foundation on which the submarine will be built. The future Wisconsin is the second vessel in the Columbia class, following the lead ship, the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN 826). Together, these submarines will form the next generation of the Navy’s ballistic missile fleet, ensuring the continued strength of America’s nuclear deterrent.

A Vessel of Power and Purpose

Delivering the keynote address, Admiral William Houston, Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, highlighted the central role ballistic missile submarines play in national defense.

“Our ballistic missile submarines are the most survivable leg of our nation’s nuclear triad; they are the ultimate guarantee that no adversary will ever miscalculate America’s resolve,” Houston stated. “From this keel, the Wisconsin will rise—an intricate structure of power, precision, and purpose. And just as the keel bears the weight of the ship, this vessel bears the weight of our nation’s most solemn responsibility: to deter war and preserve peace through strength.”

Houston also praised the thousands of men and women responsible for bringing the submarine to life. “To our shipbuilders, engineers, and suppliers: your craftsmanship makes this possible. You are laying not just a keel, but the foundation of security for generations to come.”

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A Sponsor with Strong Ties to Service

The sponsor of the future Wisconsin is Dr. Kelly Geurts, a retired educator and longtime military spouse. Her husband, the Honorable James Geurts, previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition. As sponsor, Dr. Geurts will play a ceremonial role in the life of the ship, forging a symbolic bond between the vessel, its crew, and the nation it serves.

Honoring the Wisconsin Legacy

The name Wisconsin carries deep naval history. The future SSBN 827 is the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the title.

• USS Wisconsin (BB-9): An Illinois-class pre-dreadnought battleship, commissioned in 1901. She served as flagship of the Pacific Fleet, later joined the Atlantic Fleet’s famed Great White Fleet for its global circumnavigation, and was decommissioned in 1920.

  
  

• USS Wisconsin (BB-64): An Iowa-class battleship, commissioned in 1944. She saw heavy action in the Pacific during World War II, including campaigns at the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the final bombardments of Japan. Recommissioned for the Korean War and again in 1988, she later supported operations in the Persian Gulf War before being decommissioned in 1991. Today, she serves as a museum ship at Nauticus in Norfolk, Virginia.

  
  

The new Wisconsin continues this proud lineage, representing resilience, strength, and maritime innovation across centuries.

Columbia-Class: The Future of Strategic Deterrence

The Columbia-class submarines will succeed the Navy’s aging Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, ensuring uninterrupted nuclear deterrence well into the 21st century. Known as “boomers,” these vessels are uniquely designed to remain hidden while carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Their unmatched stealth and endurance make them the backbone of America’s nuclear triad, providing a reliable second-strike capability if deterrence fails.

At 65 years of continuous patrols, the Ohio class has served longer than anticipated, making the Columbia-class replacement both urgent and vital. The Columbia class will incorporate advanced stealth technologies, modernized systems, and improved operational lifespans, extending U.S. undersea dominance for decades.

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More Than a Ceremony

The keel-laying of the future USS Wisconsin symbolizes more than the start of a submarine’s construction. It reflects the Navy’s 250-year tradition of innovation, strength, and maritime dominance. From wooden sailing ships of the 18th century to nuclear-powered submarines of today, the Navy has continually adapted to safeguard national security.

“From seabed to space, the Navy delivers power for peace—always ready to fight and win,” Houston emphasized, underscoring the service’s enduring mission.

As the second of the Columbia-class, the future Wisconsin will play a defining role in shaping the Navy’s future fleet. Once complete, she will patrol the world’s oceans silently, ensuring that America’s most powerful weapons remain credible and secure.

Conclusion

The keel-laying of the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) marks a pivotal step in advancing the United States Navy’s strategic deterrence mission. Carrying forward the proud legacy of its name, the Wisconsin will embody the Navy’s enduring values of strength, precision, and resilience.

For the shipbuilders, engineers, and sailors who will one day serve aboard her, the Wisconsin is more than steel and systems—it is a vessel that represents the nation’s promise: to deter conflict, preserve peace, and project strength across the globe.