U.S. Navy Commissions 22nd Virginia-class Submarine - Naval News

Darleen Greenert, Rickover’s sponsor, Navy veteran, and wife of former Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert, highlighted the sacrifice of military families during her remarks and remembered the late Eleonore Rickover, the namesake admiral’s wife and sponsor of SSN 709.

“How lucky am I be to be standing by these wonderful, amazing submariners,” Greenert said to the audience before making one request. “Take my submarine sailors in your hearts and keep them in your prayers – however you pray – and help them be strong because we know they are brave.”

The ceremony culminated a years-long process for commissioning the USS Rickover, the second submarine to commemorate Adm. Hyman G. Rickover – often referred to as the father of the nuclear Navy. The first Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709), commissioned in Groton on July 21, 1984, and deployed 12 times until its decommissioning in December 2007.

Greenert gave the crew the traditional order to “man our ship and bring her to life,” after which Rickover’s sailors responded “aye aye ma’am” before ceremonially running aboard the submarine.

Rickover’s commanding officer Cmdr. Matthew Beach called the event a “momentous occasion” during his speech.

“The commissioning of [this] ship is dedicated to a leader who reshaped our sea service through an unrelenting 63 years of service,” Beach said of Adm. Rickover’s legacy. “In front of you today on board this ship, the proud sailors of the next generation – Hyman G. Rickover – stand ready to continue this legacy of excellence guiding our ship into harm’s way and defending the values that we hold dear.”