The Boat’s Story
The History of USS New Jersey
From a naming ceremony in Jersey City to a commissioning on the Jersey Shore, here is how New Jersey made her way to the fleet.
She is the 23rd Virginia-class fast-attack submarine and the third ship in United States Navy history to be named for the state of New Jersey. Her story begins in 2015, when the Navy announced her name in Jersey City, runs through eight years of construction at Newport News, Virginia, and her commissioning on the Jersey Shore, and continues in active service today. Each milestone below links to the record it comes from.
From first steel to the fleet
Key milestones from her naming through her most recent port visit, in the order they happened. Each entry links to its source.
April 28, 2014
Block IV contract awarded
The Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat the Virginia-class Block IV contract for ten submarines, built under a teaming arrangement with Newport News Shipbuilding. The boat that would become New Jersey was among them.
May 24, 2015
Named New Jersey
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus hosted a ship-naming ceremony at Liberty State Park in Jersey City to announce that SSN-796 would carry the name USS New Jersey.
Jersey City, New JerseySource: The Maritime Executive Source: NJ Commissioning Committee
March 2016
Construction begins
Shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding and Electric Boat started work on the future New Jersey, the beginning of an eight-year road from raw steel to the fleet.
Newport News, VirginiaFebruary 2019
First commanding officer
Cmdr. Joseph M. Spinks took command of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) New Jersey, the crew that would stand up the boat while she was still being built.
Source: HII (names Cmdr. Spinks as CO, March 2019) Source: SUBLANT
March 25, 2019
Keel authenticated
Ship's sponsor Susan DiMarco authenticated the keel during a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding, the traditional milestone that marks a hull's formal beginning.
Newport News, VirginiaMarch 9, 2021
Pressure hull complete
Newport News Shipbuilding announced that all hull sections had been joined into a single watertight unit, with the boat about 72 percent complete.
August 20, 2021
Change of command
Cmdr. Carlos A. Otero relieved Cmdr. Joseph M. Spinks as commanding officer of PCU New Jersey during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. Under Cmdr. Spinks the crew completed the initial reactor fill 28 days ahead of schedule.
Naval Station Norfolk, VirginiaNovember 13, 2021
Christened
PCU New Jersey was christened at Newport News Shipbuilding before more than 1,800 guests. Ship's sponsor Susan DiMarco, wife of former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, broke the bottle across the hull. Retired Adm. Michael Mullen gave the keynote address.
January 2022
Change of command
Cmdr. Jared Smith relieved Cmdr. Carlos A. Otero as commanding officer of PCU New Jersey.
April 2022
Launched
After moving from her construction bay into a floating dry dock in March, the 7,800-ton submarine was submerged and floated off in the James River in April, then towed to the shipyard's submarine pier for final outfitting, testing, and crew certification. She was about 92 percent complete.
December 2022
Change of command
Cmdr. Steven Halle relieved Cmdr. Jared Smith as commanding officer of PCU New Jersey. He would take the boat through sea trials, delivery, and commissioning.
Source: Support Organization records Source: Navy.mil (Cmdr. Halle at commissioning)
June 2023
First meal aboard
The crew sat down to its first meal aboard the future New Jersey at Newport News Shipbuilding: barbeque brisket, baked catfish, cornbread, and hard-pack ice cream, with ship's sponsor Susan DiMarco joining the Sailors. The first meal marks a turning point in a submarine's construction. The boat had been certified for the crew to live and cook aboard, and from this point the Sailors, rather than the shipbuilder, took responsibility for her security, standing watch around the clock. Cmdr. Steven Halle called it "the first step in bringing the ship to life."
Source: Seapower Magazine (HII release, July 5, 2023) Source: HII release via GlobeNewswire Source: Support Organization records
February to April 2024
Sea trials
New Jersey went to sea for the first time for builder's (Alpha) trials in late February, followed by further underway periods and acceptance trials off the Virginia coast in the spring.
Off VirginiaApril 25, 2024
Delivered to the Navy
HII's Newport News Shipbuilding delivered New Jersey to the U.S. Navy. She was the 11th Virginia-class submarine delivered by Newport News and the 23rd built under the teaming agreement with Electric Boat, and the first Virginia-class boat designed and built for a gender-integrated crew. The same day she moored at her homeport, Naval Station Norfolk.
Naval Station Norfolk, VirginiaSeptember 6, 2024
Return to the Garden State
Under the command of Cmdr. Steven Halle, PCU New Jersey moored at Naval Weapons Station Earle for a twelve-day port call and a week of commissioning events across the state.
Naval Weapons Station Earle, Leonardo, New JerseySeptember 14, 2024
Placed in commission
USS New Jersey was commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, officially joining the fleet in the state whose name she carries. Gov. Phil Murphy and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro spoke, and ship's sponsor Susan DiMarco gave the order to man the ship and bring her to life. She is the first fast-attack submarine designed for a fully integrated male and female crew.
Naval Weapons Station Earle, Middletown, New JerseyFall 2024 to January 2025
Shakedown operations
The Sailors took their new boat through her shakedown period: magnetic treatment at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, work out of Port Canaveral, and acoustic trials off the Florida coast.
Kings Bay, Georgia & FloridaDecember 2024
Change of command
Cmdr. Ronald Simmons relieved Cmdr. Steven Halle as commanding officer of USS New Jersey.
Source: Support Organization, Q1 2026 newsletter Source: Official Navy site (current CO)
January 24, 2025
Post-delivery work contract
The Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat, the Virginia-class prime contractor, a $51.7 million contract modification for planning and execution of the boat's post-delivery work period. Ninety-eight percent of the work was performed at Newport News, Virginia.
February 2025 to April 2026
Post-shakedown availability
New Jersey moved to Newport News Shipbuilding in late February 2025 for her post-shakedown availability, which included combat systems and electronics upgrades along with general maintenance. After sea trials in the Virginia Capes operating area in late March 2026, HII redelivered her to the Navy on April 3, 2026.
Newport News Shipbuilding, VirginiaSpring 2026
Back at sea
Operating out of Norfolk again, New Jersey worked out of Port Canaveral and conducted acoustic trials at the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility off Port Everglades in May.
Port Canaveral & Port Everglades, FloridaAugust 2026
Port visit in Halifax
New Jersey made a port visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the most recent stop on the record.
Halifax, Nova ScotiaThird to carry the name
SSN-796 is the third United States Navy ship named for the state of New Jersey, and the first submarine to carry it. The two before her were battleships.
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The story is still being written
Every underway adds a new chapter. Follow the crew through our quarterly newsletter, or help write what comes next.
Milestone dates and events on this page are drawn from U.S. Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries releases, Department of Defense contract announcements, and the USS New Jersey (SSN 796) history record maintained at uscarriers.net. Change-of-command dates for January 2022 and December 2022 come from the Support Organization's own records. Spot an error? Let us know.