USS West Virginia (SSBN 736)

USS WEST VIRGINIA is the eleventh ship in the OHIO-class and the first submarine and the third U.S. Naval ship to bear the name of the state.

General Characteristics:	Keel Laid: December 18, 1987
	Launched: October 14, 1989
	Commissioned: October 20, 1990
	Builder: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division, Groton, Conn.
	Propulsion system: one nuclear reactor
	Propellers: one
	Length: 560 feet (171 meters)
	Beam: 42 feet (12.8 meters)
	Draft: 36,5 feet (11.1 meters)
	Displacement: Surfaced: approx. 16,765 tons Submerged: approx. 18,750 tons
	Speed: 20+ knots
	Armament: 24 Trident missile tubes (4 permanently deactivated under the New START Treaty), 4 torpedo tubes
	Homeport: Kings Bay, Georgia
	Crew: 17 Officers, 15 Chief Petty Officers and 122 Enlisted (2 crews)

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS WEST VIRGINIA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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USS WEST VIRGINIA History:

USS WEST VIRGINIA is the eleventh OHIO-class ballistic missile submarine. The contract for her construction was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, on November 21, 1983. Her keel was laid on December 18, 1987, and she was launched on October 14, 1989, sponsored by Erma Byrd, wife of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia. WEST VIRGINIA was the third OHIO-class submarine constructed from the outset to carry the Trident II D5 ballistic missile system.

Following fitting-out and sea trials, WEST VIRGINIA was delivered to the Navy on September 22, 1990, and commissioned at Groton on October 20, 1990. Capt. J. R. Harvey assumed command of the Blue Crew, while Capt. Donald McDermott took command of the Gold Crew. The submarine was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet's strategic deterrent force, with Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, as her homeport. Like other OHIO-class ballistic missile submarines, WEST VIRGINIA operated with alternating Blue and Gold crews to maintain a high operational availability for strategic deterrent patrols.

Following commissioning, WEST VIRGINIA underwent an extensive series of trials and evaluations to certify her Trident II D5 strategic weapons system. On November 28, 1990, the Blue Crew successfully launched a Trident II D5 missile during a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) on the Eastern Test Range off Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Gold Crew conducted a separate successful DASO launch on April 15, 1991. These tests demonstrated the operational readiness of both crews and the submarine's missile launching system.

On September 29, 1991, WEST VIRGINIA completed her initial strategic missile loadout at Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic in Kings Bay. She subsequently departed on her first strategic deterrent patrol on December 3, 1991, joining the Atlantic Fleet's operational ballistic missile submarine force. The submarine thereafter maintained a regular cycle of strategic patrols, crew exchanges, training periods and maintenance availabilities at Kings Bay.

On February 21, 1992, WEST VIRGINIA's Blue Crew successfully launched four Trident II D5 missiles during a Commander-in-Chief Evaluation Test (CET). The multiple-missile launch was conducted on the Eastern Test Range and provided an evaluation of the strategic weapons system under controlled test conditions. The submarine continued her strategic deterrent patrol schedule throughout the early 1990s. On May 4, 1994, she was photographed alongside a pier at Port Everglades, Florida, during one of her relatively infrequent publicly documented port visits.

WEST VIRGINIA participated in further strategic missile evaluations during the latter half of the decade. On March 17, 1997, she successfully launched two Trident II D5 missiles during a Follow-on Commander-in-Chief Evaluation Test off Cape Canaveral. On March 10, 1998, she conducted another evaluation involving four Trident II D5 missiles, two configured with Mk 4 reentry vehicles and two with Mk 5 reentry vehicles. The launches formed part of the Navy's continuing program to evaluate the reliability and performance of the strategic missile system.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, WEST VIRGINIA remained assigned to the Atlantic Fleet's ballistic missile submarine force at Kings Bay. Her Blue and Gold crews alternated strategic deterrent patrols with scheduled refits and maintenance periods at the Trident Refit Facility. The submarine continued to operate as part of the sea-based component of the United States' strategic nuclear deterrent.

On December 29, 2008, Cmdr. Charles "Tony" Hill was relieved as commanding officer of WEST VIRGINIA's Gold Crew following a loss of confidence in his ability to command. Capt. Daniel Mack, commander of Submarine Squadron 16/20, ordered the relief, and Capt. Stephen Gillespie was temporarily assigned to command the crew.

On September 3 and 4, 2009, WEST VIRGINIA successfully launched two unarmed Trident II D5 ballistic missiles from a submerged position in the Atlantic Ocean during a Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test. The launches brought the Trident II D5 missile system's record to 129 consecutive successful flight tests since 1989. The achievement was announced by missile manufacturer Lockheed Martin on October 21, 2009.

On September 17, 2010, WEST VIRGINIA held a crew-combination ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in preparation for an Engineered Refueling Overhaul (ERO) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. During the ceremony, the submarine's separate Blue and Gold crews were consolidated into a single Green Crew for the extended maintenance period. Cmdr. Michael Katahara relinquished command to Cmdr. Steven K. Hall, who assumed command of the combined crew.

On January 11, 2011, WEST VIRGINIA departed Kings Bay for the transit to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Her Engineered Refueling Overhaul formally began on March 3, 2011. The availability included refueling the nuclear reactor, extensive repairs and maintenance to the submarine's hull, mechanical and electrical systems, and modernization of shipboard equipment. The overhaul was intended to sustain the submarine's operational capabilities through the remaining decades of her planned service life.

On September 9, 2011, Cmdr. Adam D. Palmer relieved Cmdr. Steven K. Hall as commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia. WEST VIRGINIA remained at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where overhaul work continued throughout 2012. On May 17, 2012, the shipyard dedicated a new Job Readiness Cell specifically supporting the WEST VIRGINIA refueling overhaul, providing a dedicated facility for coordinating and preparing personnel involved in the project.

On October 24, 2013, WEST VIRGINIA departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard and returned to sea following approximately thirty months of refueling and overhaul work. She arrived at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay on November 3, 2013. Navy shipyard records list November 6 as the formal completion date of the Engineered Refueling Overhaul. Following her return, the submarine began preparations for resuming strategic deterrent patrols, including equipment testing, crew training and operational certification.

On November 8, 2013, WEST VIRGINIA formally restored her separate Blue and Gold crew structure during a ceremony at Kings Bay. Cmdr. Benjamin A. Shupp assumed command of the Gold Crew, while Cmdr. Adam D. Palmer retained command of the Blue Crew. On February 7, 2014, WEST VIRGINIA returned to Kings Bay following an underway period devoted to post-overhaul training and certification.

On June 2, 2014, WEST VIRGINIA successfully launched two unarmed Trident II D5 ballistic missiles during Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 25 (DASO-25) on the Atlantic Missile Range off the Florida coast. The tests were conducted to certify the submarine and its strategic weapons system following the major overhaul. Both missiles incorporated elements of the Trident II D5 Life Extension program, including upgraded guidance and missile electronics components. The successful launches completed an important phase of the submarine's return to operational readiness.

On November 20, 2014, WEST VIRGINIA's Blue Crew returned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay following a strategic deterrent patrol. Five days later, on November 25, Cmdr. Joseph W. Coleman relieved Cmdr. Adam D. Palmer as Blue Crew commanding officer during a ceremony at St. Mary's Waterfront in St. Marys, Georgia. On December 18, the Gold Crew returned to Kings Bay following routine operations.

WEST VIRGINIA continued her regular strategic deterrent patrol schedule during 2015. On December 7, the Gold Crew moored the submarine at Refit Wharf 3 at Kings Bay following another strategic deterrent patrol. On December 18, 2015, Cmdr. Timothy M. Clark relieved Cmdr. Benjamin A. Shupp as commanding officer of the Gold Crew during a ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay chapel.

On March 11, 2017, WEST VIRGINIA's Gold Crew returned to Kings Bay following a strategic deterrent patrol. On September 18, 2017, Cmdr. Jared W. Wyrick relieved Cmdr. Joseph W. Coleman as commanding officer of the Blue Crew during a change-of-command ceremony at Kings Bay.

On June 29, 2018, Cmdr. Jay D. Bijeau relieved Cmdr. Timothy M. Clark as commanding officer of WEST VIRGINIA's Gold Crew. On August 24, the submarine's Blue Crew returned to Kings Bay following another strategic deterrent patrol, mooring at Refit Wharf 3. WEST VIRGINIA continued conducting patrols and scheduled maintenance periods from her Atlantic Fleet homeport.

On June 5, 2020, Cmdr. Joseph J. Pisoni relieved Cmdr. Jared W. Wyrick as commanding officer of the Blue Crew during a ceremony aboard WEST VIRGINIA at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. On October 16, 2020, Cmdr. Erek A. Kasse relieved Cmdr. Jay D. Bijeau as commanding officer of the Gold Crew during a ceremony at the base's World War II Memorial.

Between February 9 and 11, 2021, WEST VIRGINIA conducted a series of four unarmed Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE) missile launches during a Commander's Evaluation Test off the Florida coast. The first launch took place on February 9, with the remaining launches conducted over the following two days. The tests evaluated the performance and reliability of the life-extended strategic weapons system and completed the D5LE Commander Evaluation Test population flights for the OHIO-class ballistic missile submarines.

On May 10, 2022, WEST VIRGINIA's Blue Crew returned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay following another strategic deterrent patrol. Later that year, the submarine conducted an extended deterrence patrol that included operations in the Indian Ocean and the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

On October 19, 2022, Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, embarked WEST VIRGINIA at an undisclosed location in international waters in the Arabian Sea. He was accompanied by Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet. During the visit, the officers met with the submarine's crew and received demonstrations of the submarine's capabilities. The embarkation was publicly announced by U.S. Central Command on October 20 and confirmed the presence of an American ballistic missile submarine in the region.

From October 25 to 31, 2022, WEST VIRGINIA conducted a scheduled port visit at U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. The visit formed part of an extended strategic deterrent patrol spanning the U.S. Central Command and Indo-Pacific Command areas of responsibility. During the port call, WEST VIRGINIA conducted a complete Blue-Gold crew exchange, allowing the crews to rotate between their operational patrol periods.

The Diego Garcia visit required coordinated logistical and security support from personnel stationed on the island. U.S. Navy security forces, harbor patrol units, military working dog teams and Marines assigned to Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Pacific provided force protection. Navy divers assigned to the submarine tender USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39) also supported the submarine during the visit. The port call demonstrated the ability to conduct crew exchanges and support ballistic missile submarine operations at a remote forward operating location.

On January 27, 2023, Cmdr. James H. Kepper IV relieved Cmdr. Joseph J. Pisoni as commanding officer of WEST VIRGINIA's Blue Crew during a ceremony at the chapel aboard Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. During Pisoni's command tour, the Blue Crew had conducted operations in the Indian Ocean, completed a crew exchange while deployed and participated in strategic missile testing. On March 14, 2023, Cmdr. Brian Ross relieved Cmdr. Erek A. Kasse as commanding officer of the Gold Crew.

In June 2023, WEST VIRGINIA conducted a Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test involving two unarmed Trident II D5 Life Extension missiles off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launches were part of the Navy's continuing program to evaluate the readiness and reliability of the strategic weapons system aboard operational ballistic missile submarines. The successful tests provided additional data on the performance of the D5LE missile system during the later years of OHIO-class service.

WEST VIRGINIA subsequently continued her strategic deterrent mission from Kings Bay, alternating between patrols, crew training and scheduled maintenance periods. On August 14, 2025, Cmdr. Joseph W. Sammur relieved Cmdr. James H. Kepper IV as commanding officer of the Blue Crew during a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

On January 23, 2026, Cmdr. Scott J. Tedrick relieved Cmdr. Brian Ross as commanding officer of WEST VIRGINIA's Gold Crew during a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Tedrick previously served as a deputy to the commander of Submarine Squadron 16. During his command tour, Ross had led the Gold Crew through an extended maintenance period and associated operational preparations. Following the change of command, Ross was reassigned as Deputy for Training at Submarine Squadron 16.

On July 30, 2026, Cmdr. Joseph W. Sammur was relieved as commanding officer of WEST VIRGINIA's Blue Crew by the commander of Submarine Squadron 20 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. Cmdr. Luke Kelvington, Submarine Squadron 20 Deputy for Training, temporarily assumed command of the Blue Crew, while Sammur was reassigned to Submarine Group 10. At the time of the relief, WEST VIRGINIA was in port at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay undergoing a maintenance and repair period. The Navy announced the command change on August 1, stating that the relief would not affect the submarine's mission or operational schedule.

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