GROTON, Conn. – General Dynamics Electric Boat will christen Vermont (SSN 792), the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine, at a ceremony at its shipyard here Saturday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

 

Gloria Valdez is the ship sponsor. She recently served as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (research, development and acquisition), overseeing all naval shipbuilding programs, major ship conversions, and the maintenance, modernization and disposal of in-service ships. Ms. Valdez retired from that position in April after 32 years of civilian service with the Department of the Navy and the Department of Homeland Security.

 

The submarine Vermont is the 19th ship of the Virginia Class. The central characteristic of the class is the modularity derived from the design/build approach, which supports efficient construction and mission capability. This provides the U.S. Navy with a submarine class that advances the state-of-the-art with each succeeding ship. Vermont’s adaptability makes it highly responsive to changing mission requirements.

 

Electric Boat and its partner, Newport News Shipbuilding, share construction of the submarines under a teaming agreement. A total of 28 Virginia-class submarines have been delivered, are under construction or under contract.

 

A live video and audio webcast of the Vermont christening will be accessible online at: www.gdeb.com. Webcast coverage will begin Saturday at 10:30 a.m. EST; the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at approximately 12:15 p.m. The program will be available for on-demand replay for one week, beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.

 

Attendance is by invitation only.