The future USS IDAHO SSN 799 Christening was held in Groton, Connecticut on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Our past events page has pictures of the incredible event! Check out the latest newsletter to read more!

Creating a Strong Bond between a Great State and a Great Ship...
Esto Perpetua

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the USS IDAHO SSN 799 Commissioning Foundation and Committee and our work in support of the commissioning and crew of the warship that will carry our state's name.

We welcome your involvement and support in our once-in-a-hundred-year project. Our Committee and its supporters include Idahoans and non-Idahoans alike. We have many military veterans, including Navy submariners, but most are simply patriots who want to make a difference for the young men and women who will sail aboard the USS IDAHO "on scene, unseen" in defense of our nation for decades to come.

The future USS IDAHO SSN 799 is a leading-edge Virginia Class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine being built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut. She will be christened the spring of 2024, and is likely to be commissioned into the Navy fleet during the spring of 2025. Much of the advanced acoustic stealth technology came from the US Navy’s premier Acoustic Research Laboratory in Bayview Idaho on Lake Pend Oreille and is home to the largest unmanned submarine in the world. The Navy facility is located on the former Camp Farragut; the second largest of seven Navy bootcamps in WWII, training almost 300k sailors during the war.

She will follow in the tradition of the four previous ships named USS IDAHO the most recent being Battleship 42, which was commissioned in 1919. It served with distinction in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was present in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the formal surrender by the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945.

The USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation Inc. is an Idaho nonprofit corporation with Federal IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) tax exempt status (EIN 84-5147328).

Idaho Naval History

The 43rd State has an amazing Naval History that even many of our residents are not aware of. From the second largest of seven Navy Bootcamps in WWII to the first Nuclear Submarine Prototype ever built to "The U.S. Submarine force's most important body of water."

The Future USS IDAHO SSN 799
Gem of the Fleet!

The USS IDAHO SSN 799 will be the 26th Virginia Class Submarine built since the 1999 and the eighth Block IV variant of the class incorporating the very latest in undersea warfighting technology and submarine construction techniques.

The Commissioning Committee

Our Committee responsibilities are numerous. Foremost is building the long-term connection between Idahoans and our namesake warship's young sailors who will serve aboard her in dangerous places.

USS IDAHO News


USS IDAHO Now Has a New Leader

USS IDAHO Now Has a New Leader
March 12th, 2025

Commander Chad Guillerault will be taking command of the USS Idaho. The Virginia-class fast attack submarine is still under construction.


Governor Dirk Kempthorne and CAPT Dave Mericle reminisce about the christening of the USS BOISE

Governor Dirk Kempthorne and CAPT Dave Mericle reminisce about the christening of the USS BOISE
March 8th, 2025

Former Idaho Governor and USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee Advisory Board Chair Dirk Kempthorne and CAPT Dave Mericle, US NAVY Retired, the First Commanding Officer of USS BOISE, share their memories of the Christening of USS BOISE in OCT 1990 when Governor Kempthorne was Mayor of Boise.


PCU IDAHO (SSN 799) Change of Command Ceremony

PCU IDAHO (SSN 799) Change of Command Ceremony
March 7th, 2025

The PCU IDAHO SSN 799 Change of Command was FRI 07 MAR.Cmdr. Randall Leslie turned command over to Cmdr. Chad Guillerault in a traditional change of command ceremony. You can watch the ceremony on the PCU IDAHO Facebook site.


USS Idaho Events


PCU IDAHO SSN 799 Change of Command - FRI 07 MAR
March 7, 2025

The PCU IDAHO SSN 799 Change of Command was Friday, March 7, 2025. Cmdr. Randall Leslie turned command over to Cmdr. Chad Guillerault in a traditional change of command ceremony You can watch the ceremony on the PCU IDAHO Facebook site.


IDAHO 799 Float Off Timelapse Video

IDAHO 799 Float Off Timelapse Video
August 6, 2024

See this incredible footage of the Float Off (Launch) of the IDAHO 799 at Electric Boat in Groton on 06 AUG 2024.


IDAHO 799 Roll Out Timelapse Video

IDAHO 799 Roll Out Timelapse Video
June 21, 2024

See this amazing time-lapse footage of the IDAHO 799 being rolled out of the manufacturing building at Electric Boat in Groton and being staged for the Float Off.


Sun Valley Culinary Institute - Culinary Training
May 14, 2024

Sun Valley Culinary Institute - Culinary Training


IDAHO 799 Christening
16 MAR 2024

Pressure Hull Complete
Fall 2023

USS IDAHO Keel Laying

The USS IDAHO crew and Electric Boat employees in front of the future USS IDAHO SSN 799 in October 2023. Photo courtesy of General Dynamics Electric Boat via the USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee.

Photo Courtesy of General Dynamics Electric Boat

Keel Laying Ceremony
24 AUG 2020

USS IDAHO Keel Laying

Hull section of the future USS IDAHO on display festooned with the US Flag, Ships Crest and the Official Seal of the State of Idaho

USS IDAHO Keel Laying

The ship’s Sponsor, Terry Stackley giving her keynote address

USS IDAHO Keel Laying

Welder Tim Cashman of Electric Boat, welds Terry Stackley’s Initials into the plate of steel that will be mounted in the submarine

USS IDAHO Keel Laying

The ship’s Chief of the Boat, Master Chief David Pope, Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Rene Medrano, Former Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Ship’s Sponsor, Terry Stackley and the Ships Commanding Officer, CDR Nicholas Meyers on stage at the Keel Laying.

IDAHO 799 Float Off

See this incredible footage of the Float Off (Launch) of the IDAHO 799 at Electric Boat in Groton on 06 AUG 2024.

IDAHO 799 Roll out

See this amazing time-lapse footage of the IDAHO 799 being rolled out of the manufacturing building at Electric Boat in Groton and being staged for the Float Off.

USS IDAHO March

Silver and Gold Beneath the Waves

A march dedicated to the sailors of the USS IDAHO SSN 799 serving our nation and representing the people of the great state of Idaho
Composer: Professor Dan Bukvich, University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music

The complete breakdown of the different parts of Silver and Gold Beneath the Waves by Professor Dan Bukvich.

IDAHO Public Television
IDAHO EXPERIENCE
Idaho's Nuclear Navy

ARD Bayview Video

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Support Our Ship and Sailors