PCU Idaho Submarine

Leadership

Commanding Officer

Commander Chad J. Guillerault


CDR Guillerault is a native of Biddeford, ME. He is a 2007 graduate of SUNY Maritime College where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.

His operational assignments include service in both attack and ballistic missile submarines including service as Division Officer on USS NEBRASKA (GOLD), Combat Systems Officer on USS VIRGINIA, and Executive Officer on USS OHIO (GOLD). During these tours he completed five strategic deterrent patrols, two North Atlantic deployments, and three deployments to the Pacific.

Staff assignments include instructor duty at Trident Training Facility Bangor, WA; Operations Officer at Submarine Squadron 19; and Capability Development Department Head at Undersea Warfighting Development Center, Tactical Development Group.

CDR Guillerault is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Marine Corp Commendation Medal (seven awards), and Navy Marine Corp Achievement Medal (one award). He has served on Navy teams that have been awarded various awards to include Meritorious Unit Commendations and Battle Efficiency “E” Awards.

CDR Guillerault resides in Chester, CT with his beautiful wife, the former Victoria Macdonald Smith of Knutsford, England. They have two lovely children together, Emily and Thomas.

Executive Officer

Lieutenant Commander Justin DeVillar


LCDR DeVillar earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 2010. As a Bowman scholar he earned a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2011.

LCDR DeVillar served as Engineer Officer on USS CALIFORNIA (SSN-781) and as a Division Officer on USS JIMMY CARTER (SSN-23). LCDR DeVillar’s shore assignments included Staff Training Officer and Shift Engineer on the MARF Prototype at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Ballston Spa, NY and Engineer on Moored Training Ship 626 DANIEL WEBSTER at NPTU Charleston, SC.

LCDR DeVillar and his wife reside in Groton, Connecticut with their two children.

Chief of the Boat

Master Chief Jeremy Rooks


A native of Wynne, Arkansas, Master Chief Rooks enlisted in the Navy on March 9, 2007. His military training and certifications include Chief of the Boat/Command Master Chief qualification, and the Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leadership Course which he graduated on March 2023.

After completing his initial training, Master Chief Rooks reported to USS SPRINGFIELD (SSN 761) in Groton, CT, in December 2007. Following his sea first tour he reported to Naval Submarine Support Facility, in Groton, CT in 2012, where he served as an AC&R Technician and Locksmith. He then reported to, USS ILLINOIS (SSN 786), in Groton, CT in 2015. While there he was selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2017. Following his selection, he reported to USS NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784), in Groton, CT, where he served as Auxiliary and Special Operations Division Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO). In April 2019, he reported as the Damage Control Assistant and Special Operations Coordinator for Submarine Squadron 4, in Groton, CT. After his shore tour at squadron he reported to USS CALIFORNIA as Chief of the Boat April 2023. He was advanced to Senior Chief in 2020 and Master Chief in 2023. Master Chief Rooks reported as PCU IDAHO's third Chief of the Boat in May 2025.

Master Chief Rooks is entitled to wear the Enlisted Submarine Warfare insignia, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (Two Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Five Awards), and various campaign service and unit awards. He is married to Stephanie Rooks and has two daughters named Ellie (9 years old) and Adley (6 years old).



Crew

The crew will eventually consist of approximately 120 enlisted personnel and 14 officers. The crew will be mixed gender throughout many of the ranks. As of September 2020 the crew consists of approximately 35 sailors. Most of their current activities revolve around program development, training and qualifications in preparation for operating the future submarine.

New crew members are reporting aboard weekly.

Crew members that are Idaho Natives:

Electricians Mate Nuclear First Class (ss) Andrew Leonhardt
Hometown: Nampa, ID
High School / Graduation Year: Meridian High School 2010
University: N/A
Favorite things to do in Idaho: Fishing, Camping, Floating the Boise River

STS3 Robert Boscan
Hometown: Hayden Idaho
High School:Coeur d’Alene High School
Favorite things to do in Idaho:
Winter – Skiing at Silver Mountain
Summer – Silver Wood theme park


Crest

The Crest of the USS IDAHO, has many features that ties the boat to its namesake state.

At the top of the crest can be seen a large cut opal, containing a vista of the sawtooth mountain range, with a grouping of white pine trees (the official state tree).

Behind the opal is an Appaloosa horse, the 1st of several Native American ties to Idaho and the official state horse.

In front of the appaloosa is the motto of both USS IDAHO and the state of Idaho, "ESTO PERPETUA" or "let it be perpetual". Which is especially true for a nuclear-powered warship.

Below the motto are an arraignment of five feathers. These represent the five different Native American tribes that call Idaho home.

The outline of the state can be seen, flanked by two steelhead trout. One gold and one silver (representing the officers and enlisted uniform devices respectively) with green (jade) and red (garnet) eyes. These are in reference to both the nickname of Idaho as the gem state and also reference the running lights on the submarine.Above and below each fish can be seen a stylized wave of water, this is to represent their journey to and from the ocean.

Within the state outline one can see the namesake itself, USS IDAHO, steaming from its acoustic birthplace, Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD) Bayview, ID, the US Navy’s premier acoustic research laboratory. (denoted by an anchor on the southern end of lake Pend Oreille. The Sub has a red rudder protruding from the water to serve as reference to LSV-2 Cutthroat, the quarter scale Virginia Class unmanned research model, operated at ARD. Just to the right of the sub’s conning tower is a reference to NPTU Idaho with a design made from an element of their unit patch. Until recently the majority of the US Navy's nuclear operators were trained here. Leading the sub into her mission swiftly and silently, is a peregrine falcon (the state raptor). Below the falcon are 4 silvers stars, one for each of the USS IDAHOs, and below them in silhouette is the most recent USS IDAHO, BB42.

The lower portion of the crest features the name "USS IDAHO" and "SSN 799" over a red, white and blue field. Bordering this to the left is a grouping of huckleberries (the state fruit) and to the right, syringas (the state flower).

About the designer

The crest was designed by Mr. Jason Watson of the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. With his other duties he has had the pleasure of designing 9 other Virginia class submarine crests. He resides in Ballston Spa, with his wife Katelyn and his daughter Sophie.


The Boat

Capabilities

The Future USS IDAHO SSN 799 will have:

Acoustic Stealth

which was developed at Acoustic Research Detachment, Bayview Idaho.

Nuclear Power

the original nuclear submarine propulsion system was built at Idaho National Lab in 1953. All of the nuclear training officers and crew from the USS Nautilus SSN 571 trained in Idaho.

An Estimated Cost of $2.6B

30+ Year Service Life

Armament

12 Vertical Launch Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles

4 Horizontal Torpedo Tubes capable of launching Mark 48 Advanced Capability Torpedoes and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles

Special Operations

Integrated Lock In / Lock out chamber for Navy SEAL Operations Capability


Future Missions of the USS IDAHO SSN 799

Sea Control and Freedom of Navigation Operations

Sea Control 1
Sea Control 2
Sea Control 3
Sea Control 4

Land Attack

Land Attack 1
Land Attack 1
Land Attack 1

Anti Submarine Warfare

Carrier/Task Force Battle Group Escort

Carrier/Task Force Battle Group Escort

Carrier/Task Force Battle Group Escort
Carrier/Task Force Battle Group Escort

Mine Laying and Detection

Special Operations 1
Special Operations 1

Special Operations Control/Support

Special Operations 1
Special Operations 2

Anti Surface Ship Warfare

Anti Surface Ship Warfare
Anti Surface Ship Warfare

Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance

Anti Surface Ship Warfare

Launch/Recovery of Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

PCU Idaho Submarine Menu