In search of all things Colorado. This picture   was recently forwarded to us by the Chairman of   the USS Minnesota Committee (many thanks   Brian!) who noticed this helm from battleship   USS Colorado (BB45) in Norfolk, Virginia. It is   located in the boathouse that serves the   Admiral’s Barge on Naval Station Norfolk. We of   course know of two others, one located at the   University Memorial Center at CU Boulder and   the other at the Pioneers Museum in Colorado   Springs.

Congratulation to Captain Jason Geddes. Commander Submarine Forces recently announced that he has been selected for major command as Commanding Officer of USS Michigan (SSGN 727) Blue. MICHIGAN is one of the original Ohio Class submarines and has been converted to a guided missile submarine.

March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, marks the 2nd Anniversary of USS Colorado being placed in Commission. Ceremonies were held that day in 2018 at Pier 6 at the Naval Submarine Base. About 2,000 persons attended on a brisk but sunny day. The principal speaker was Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado and the ceremony was attended by then Governor John Hickenlooper and Senator Michael Bennet. Ken Jones, a WWII veteran of Battleship Colorado (BB45), passed the traditional long glass to the oncoming watch. Five others of his shipmates were in attendance. Retired Colonel Andy Meverden, former Chaplain of Colorado National Guard, gave the Invocation and Benediction. The color guard was from the Widefield High School NJROTC unit in Colorado Springs. The ship was placed in Commission by ADM Frank Caldwell, Director of Navy Nuclear Reactors, and Ship’s Sponsor, Annie Mabus. 

In Ceremonies held today at Dealey Center Theater on the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Capt. Jason Geddes was relieved as Commanding Officer of USS Colorado (SSN 788) by Cdr. Garth Storz.

It was an honor and privilege to attend USS Colorado's awards ceremony today acknowledging the accomplishments of individual crew members on their recently completed deployment. Ten members of the association were in attendance. Association President Don Price presented a letter of congratulations signed by Governor Polis and the entire Colorado Congressional delegation. Commanding Officer Jason Geddes presented the Association with a plaque in appreciation for our support. The Association also presented each member of the crew with a special coin commemorating the boat's maiden deployment.

Several Members of the USS Colorado Submarine Association have traveled from Colorado and elsewhere to greet the crew on their arrival.

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) returned from its maiden deployment to its homeport at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, Feb. 20.

Received some pictures from the COB. Here is an excerpt of the email that accompanied the pictures:

All is well from the deep. The last underway was a bit long for our tastes, but the men killed it on a daily basis, honing their skills and raising the bar tactically for the rest of the fleet to aspire to. Very proud of the men and their efforts as Steely-eyed Warriors of the Deep! Additionally, although our port calls have been few and far between, the men have represented the Navy and the State of Colorado
on liberty as exemplary ambassadors, worthy of praise by John Q. Public. The TRIAD couldn’t be happier with their professional demeanor and outstanding performance both onboard and out in town. I sleep a little easier at night as a result. :-)

Our Halfway Day celebration was delayed a couple of weeks due to operations, but the crew came out in force participating in many morale-building events. It was filled with crazy events (I even died my hair and beard to show the crew they could "let loose" a little; they were VERY surprised at the sight! All in all, the crew enjoyed a relaxing day of fun, which was much-deserved and needed. Of note, we had junior Sailors posing as acting “CO for the day” (along with XO, COB, and the 4 Department Heads, with full access to the Wardroom for meals).

Sincerely (and on behalf of the TRIAD),

Chip

On Saturday May 4th, Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Anthony Matus, LTJG Timothy Bell, Machinist’s Mate First Class (MMN1(SS)) Chris Guitierrez and Fireman (FN(SS)) Albert Rodriquez arrived in Denver for a four day visit to our state. LTJG Matus, the Assistant Operations Officer, had actually been on a previous crew visit in October of 2017. LTJG Bell has been on board about eight months and is currently the Chemistry and Radiological Assistant. MMN1(SS) Guitierrez is a nuclear machinist mate and hold the distinction of being the longest serving member of the crew having reported with the first increment of the engineering department in 2014. FN(SS) Rodriquez, a member of Auxiliary Division, completed the requirements for submarine qualification in only six months, one of the shortest times of any of the crew.

That evening the crew went to Big Bill’s Pizza in Littleton for dinner. They were greeted warmly by the owner who introduced them to the patrons who gave the sailors a standing ovation. It was a great welcome to Colorado.

On Sunday the crew visited some of the Cinco de Mayo festivities in Civic Center Park and then attended the Colorado Rockies game at Coors field. They were given a rousing reception as they were introduced to the crowd during the seventh inning stretch. In the evening several members of the USS Colorado Submarine Association treated our visitors to dinner at the historic Buckhorn Exchange in Denver.

Monday was a busy day for our sailors.  They made presentations at Castle View High School in Castle Rock and Casey Middle School in Boulder. In the afternoon they received a special tour of the Capitol and observed a flag raising from the balcony of the Capitol dome. They met with the Governor who presented them with the Colorado state flag. From there it was off to the University Memorial Center (UMC) at CU Boulder. The UMC is the official repository of USS Colorado artifacts and has the ship’s bells that served first three USS Colorado’s and a replica of the bell currently in service on the submarine, a gift from the USS Colorado (BB45) Association.

On Tuesday, after driving to Fort Collins, the crew members were interviewed for thirty minutes on local radio station KCOL 600 AM by morning host Jimmy Lakey. They then split up into two groups and set out to visit a total of nine middle and high schools. The schools visited were Preston Middle School, Blevins Middle School, PSD Global Academy, Lesher Middle School, Rocky Mountain High School, PSD Global Academy, Fort Collins High School, Liberty Common High School, and Fort Collins High School. All together they spoke to about 650 students in Fort Collins who asked many questions about life on a submarine. After touring downtown Fort Collins, the sailors headed to Steamboat Springs for their Wednesday events.

They started Wednesday as guests of Steamboat Springs City Council for breakfast and then gave a presentation to the Council who were intently interested in what the crew had to say. They then visited North Routt Charter School about twenty miles from Steamboat where they talked to about 150 students in grades 3 through 8 of the school. After stopping at Freshies Restaurant in Steamboat for lunch where they were hosted by the owner, they visited Steamboat middle school where they talked to 120 6th and 7th grade students. They also got to tour the town and visit the local rodeo grounds and ski areas. The sailors were then hosted to dinner at the town’s combined VFW/American Legion Post. They were then hosted at Steamboat Whiskey Distillers for after-dinner refreshments by the owner, a former Navy Seal. The visit was covered in the local Steamboat Pilot newspaper and given front page coverage. Considering that Steamboat Springs is a community of only 12,000 they cut a wide swath. They were often stopped on the street by persons recognizing them because of the news coverage and given spontaneous gift donuts by the Owner of Powder Day Donut shop.

On Thursday they were hosted for breakfast by the Steamboat Springs Chamber of Commerce, and made a presentation to the Board before heading to DIA to catch their flight back to Groton. The visit to Steamboat provided the crew members an opportunity to see some of Colorado’s beautiful mountain scenery

Once again, the visit by the crew member proved to be a great success. All the students at their school presentations were interested and asked incisive questions which the sailors answered in a highly professional manner. It gave those students a glimpse into life in the Navy and on a submarine and demonstrated the high caliber of sailors who serve in our Submarine Force today. It also gave the sailors a change to appreciate the support they receive from their namesake state and to observe the great natural beauty of Colorado.

Three members of the new USS Colorado Submarine Association recently traveled to Groton to meet with the crew of USS Colorado with the purpose of defining how the new Association could best support the boat for the long term. Association President, Don Price and members JJ Mackin and Rick Riessen spent two days meeting with various members of the Command, including the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Chief of the Boat. They met also with the officers of the Family Readiness Group accompanied by the CO’s wife, Aimee Koepp and XO’s wife, Tiffany Wolff.

It was a great visit! The hospitality of the crew was amazing especially considering their busy in port period. This visit helped strengthen the bonds between the state and the crew and demonstrate our commitment to support them throughout the life of the boat.