About Us

Vision Statement

Bring together the people of the great State of Idaho and the Officers and Crew of the USS IDAHO to celebrate in exemplary fashion the extraordinary honor of having a ship of the line named for the state. Create a bond between the people of Idaho and the sailors of the submarine that will last throughout the life of the ship and beyond. Recognize with great honor, the men and women that have served and will serve throughout the history of the land we now call Idaho.

Esto Perpetua


Mission Statements

Serve as the State’s agent for the planning, preparation, funding and conduct of traditional and celebratory lay down, christening and commissioning activities under the guidelines of the Secretary of the Navy.

Plan and conduct a statewide outreach of social, informative and educational activities to create the bond between the people of Idaho and those who serve in defense of our great state and nation on the USS IDAHO.

Identify and implement a sustainable program so that the crews of the USS IDAHO, from the first crew to all future crews, see tangible ongoing support from the people of Idaho to the crew and families.

Submarine

We are responsible for any habitability improvements aboard the submarine to make the long and isolated missions more comfortable, better quality of life and to improve the aesthetics. All to reflect IDAHO's beauty, spirit and culture for the crew and all visitors that may tour the submarine over its life.

We also have specific roles and responsibilities related to the boat's christening and of course the commissioning into the fleet - the highlight of any Navy warship's life.  We expect to host several events during the week of commissioning ranging from 150 to 1,500 participants, depending on the event.

One of our priorities is to fund, through the existing Dolphin Scholarship Foundation, some educational assistance scholarships for the sailors or their dependents in order to demonstrate our gratitude and tangible support of their sacrifice.

With our small and widespread population, we may not have the fundraising advantage compared with commissioning committees in other states with large populations. But this is Idaho, where great things happen. We're being creative and preparing a broad campaign in each of Idaho’s regions. We have a budget and fundraising target of more than $500,000 by the time the USS IDAHO is commissioned.

Thank you again for your interest in the USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation, the Commissioning Committee and our work. I hope you will feel free to share this website with others who may be interested in helping us ensure that crews of the USS IDAHO, now and in the future, know that we are with them as they represent Idaho’s courage, values, history and culture in defense of our nation. And please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.


USS IDAHO News

Naval Sea Systems Command: U.S. Navy Launches New Attack Submarine
September 27th, 2024

Naval Sea Systems Command: GROTON, Conn. - One of the U.S. Navy’s newest attack submarines, the future USS IDAHO (SSN 799), launched from General Dynamics Electric Boat’s shipyard into the Thames River, Aug. 6.


KTVB: USS IDAHO Float Off
September 27th, 2024

USS Idaho launched for the "float off," but more work needs to be done. USS Idaho is deep into stage four of its lifespan.


New Time-Lapse Videos of Future USS IDAHO Float Off from Electric Boat on Aug. 6
September 26th, 2024

Newly released time-lapse videos from Electric Boat shipbuilders show the Float Off of the future USS IDAHO on August 6, 2024 in Groton, Connecticut.


USS IDAHO Events

IDAHO 799 Float Off Timelapse Video
October 12th, 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
October 11th, 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.


Idaho Public Television's "Idaho's Nuclear Navy" Boise Premier - March 11, 2024
June 4th, 2024

The USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee, Idaho Public Television, and the Idaho State Historical Society organized the Boise premier of "Idaho's Nuclear Navy" at the Egyptian Theatre. Governor Brad Little and former Governor Dirk Kempthorne gave remarks to the sold-out crowd.


Advisory Board

Honorable Dirk Kempthorne
Chairman
Advisory Board
David Lehman
Vice Chairman
Advisory Board
Dennis Johnson
Chairman - Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Tom Wilford
Chairman - Audit "SUB" Committee
Linda Oliver
Chairman
Crew and Family Support "SUB" Committee
ADM Jay L Johnson
US Navy (ret)
VADM John Grossenbacher
US Navy (ret)
VADM Ron Eytchison
US Navy (ret)
RADM Gerald Gneckow
US Navy (ret)
RADM David Oliver
US Navy (ret)
RADM Michael T. Coyle
US Navy (ret)
RADM Art Clark
US Navy (ret)
Maj Gen Gary Sayler
US Air Force (ret)
Brig Gen Bill Shawver
US Air Force (ret)
CAPT Phil Reberger
US Navy (ret)
CAPT David Mericle
US Navy (ret)
David Miskimens
US Navy (ret)
CAPT Bill Previty
US Navy (ret)
FLTCM (SS, AW) Steve Hillis
Crew/Family Support SUB Committee
US Navy (ret)
MCPO (SS) Jack Burdick
Crew/Family Support SUB Committee
US Navy (ret)
Park Price
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Mike Mooney
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Doug Armstrong
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Sue Thilo
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Ray Stark
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Candice Allphin
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Barry McCahill
Public Relations Official
Don Mitchell
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Scott Turlington
Corporate Fundraising "SUB" Committee
Mike Johnson
Gregory McDonald

Commissioning Committee

Foundation Board of Directors

Richard Colburn
Chairman of the Board
Co-Founder
CAPT US Navy (ret)
Ray Fortin
Treasurer
CDR, US Navy Veteran
Andy Krivy
Secretary
Co-Founder
Fire Control Technician Ballistic Second Class (FTB2), US Navy Veteran
Henry Netzer
North Idaho Regional Chair
Captain US Navy (ret)
Tom Dale
Southwest Idaho Regional Chair
Musician Second Class (MU2) US Navy Veteran MU2
Russel Johnson
Southeast Idaho Regional Chair
Andrew Johnson esq.
General Counsel
SSGT US Marine Corps Veteran
Richard Fife
Chairman Emeritus
Co-Founder
LCDR US Navy (ret)

Vice Chairman

Open

Southcentral Idaho Regional Chair

Open

Executive Committees

Marketing & Public Affairs Committee
Laura Barton
Marketing & Public Affairs Committee Chair
Markus Gudmundsson
Marketing & Public Affairs Committee Vice Chair
Tim Marsano
Public Affairs Officer
Col USAF (ret)
Gayle Alvarez
Historian
Robert Brady
Newsletter Editor
Dr. Barry Oglesbee DC
Merchandise Manager
U.S. Navy (vet)
Mike Allen
Special Product Manager
Rick Gilchrist
Newsletter Contributor
Barbara Grant
Newsletter Contributor
Matthew Barton
Social Media Manager
Planning Committee

Don Curry
Chairman Planning Committee
EMC US US Navy (ret)

Jim McMahon
Vice Chair Planning Committee
CDR US Navy (ret)

Membership Committee
Chair Membership Committee
Open
Brett Blethen
Vice Chair Membership Committee
Maj US Air Force (ret)
Fundraising Committee
Chair Fundraising Committee
Open
Finance Committee
Robert Earle
Chairman Finance Committee
LCDR US Navy Veteran

Regional Committees

North Idaho
Henry Netzer
North Idaho Regional Chair
Captain US Navy (ret)
South Central Idaho

Tony Kevan
Vice Chair Southcentral Idaho Region

South West Idaho
Tom Dale
Southwest Idaho Regional Chair
Musician Second Class (MU2) US Navy Veteran MU2

Bob Brady
Vice Chair Southwest Idaho Region
Lieutenant US Navy veteran

Ron Dale
Treasurer Southwest Idaho Region

South East Idaho
Russel Johnson
Southeast Idaho Regional Chair
Robert Skinner
Vice Chair SE Region
Captain US Navy (ret)
Marty Sattison
Vice Chair Central Area SE Region
Captain US Navy (ret)
Don Hulse
Vice Chair Southern Area SE Region
EMC (ss) US Navy (ret)

Proclamations & Endorsements

Idaho Legislature
Proclamation from Idaho Governor, Brad Little
Pocatello Proclamation
Daughters of the American Revolution Resolution

Committee Crest

The Crest of the USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee contains icons of the State of Idaho and the US Navy submarine force.

USS IDAHO SSN 799 is the official name and hull number of the future submarine names for Idaho.

The five gold stars represent that this submarine will be the fifth ship to be named USS IDAHO in the history of the navy.

The red, white and blue represent the iconic license plates of the state.

The submarine is depicted sailing on Lake Pend Oreille with the mountains in the background. Lake Pend Oreille is home to Acoustic Research Detachment Bayview, which is the Navy’s Premier Acoustic Laboratory and where the acoustic stealth technology of USS IDAHO was developed.

The outlines of the State and State Seal can be seen on the left and right. The moniker "Gem of the Fleet" comes for the namesake being known as the Gem State for its rich mineral resources and 72 different kinds of precious and semi precious stones that can be found throughout the state.

About the Artist

Nicole Hulse is a sophomore at Idaho State University. She plans to get her Bachelor's in Business Administration at ISU and currently double majors in marketing and management. As a marketing intern at ISU's College of Business, she also designs promotional material as well as run the college's blog. In between full-time school and work, Nicole enjoys creating art as a hobby and gets commissions from those who would like to buy her paintings. Her grandfather, Electricians Mate Chief Donald Hulse, served on six submarines during his 20-year navy career.


Contact Us

USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation Inc.
PO Box 6077
Boise ID 83708

Are you interested in volunteering to assist the Comissioning Committee?
Do you have any connections to the Navy or other branches of our armed forces?