Keel‑laying ceremony for USS Wisconsin at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Quonset Point.
Quonset Point, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, August 31, 2025
A ceremonial keel‑laying at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility marked the formal start of construction for USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827), the second Columbia‑class ballistic missile submarine. The event included a sponsor authenticator plate, remarks from naval leadership and participation by shipbuilder partners. The Columbia‑class will replace the Ohio‑class fleet and serve as the sea‑based leg of the nuclear deterrent, drawing on a nationwide industrial base of thousands of suppliers. The ceremony prompted community watch parties and some protests. Fabrication and assembly will continue across multiple shipyards and supplier sites through the program lifecycle.
A ceremonial keel‑laying for the submarine USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) took place on August 27 at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, marking the ceremonial start of construction for the second vessel in the Columbia‑class ballistic missile submarine program. The event signals a major step in building the next generation of U.S. ballistic missile submarines designed to replace the Ohio‑class force.
The keel‑laying ceremony is a longstanding naval tradition used to mark the formal start of a ship’s construction. The Columbia‑class boats are intended to serve as stealthy, survivable platforms for submarine‑launched ballistic missiles, providing an assured second‑strike capability and forming the most survivable leg of the nation’s nuclear deterrent. The vessel is nuclear‑powered, expected to have a submerged displacement of 20,810 tons, and is slated to enter service in 2031 with an estimated program cost around $9 billion.
SSBN 827 is being built through a manufacturing teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding, with more than 3,000 suppliers across the United States supporting the construction and roughly 300+ suppliers from Wisconsin taking part in design and development work. The construction plan calls for the submarine to feature advanced acoustic design and modern sensors to make it among the quietest and most capable submarines produced.
The keel‑laying included the traditional welding of the sponsor’s initials onto a plate that will be permanently mounted aboard the submarine because of the vessel’s round hull form. The submarine’s ceremonial keel authenticator and sponsor is Dr. Kelly Geurts, a retired educator and military spouse with a multi‑decade career focused on inclusion, arts integration, and educational access. Dr. Geurts served as the keel authenticator and was noted as an active member of the ship’s association.
The USS Wisconsin SSBN 827 Association hosted the event and organized watch parties and public activities intended to connect Wisconsin citizens with the submarine that bears their state’s name. The Association also described aims that include promoting naval history, supporting education, and assisting future crews and families. The association’s leadership includes a retired Navy captain who serves as president, and the ceremony featured an honorary board director who previously held a state title and a national pageant title.
Senior leaders at the event framed the Columbia‑class boats as a central element of strategic deterrence and described the keel as the foundational piece from which the ship will be assembled. Company leadership noted the submarine honors state citizens and the region’s shipbuilding ties and emphasized a commitment to workmanship as construction continues.
Keel‑laying watch parties were held in multiple communities across Wisconsin and in Virginia. Some public events drew protests, including a demonstration outside a veterans museum in Madison where opponents said they view the program as a misuse of public funds and urged investment in domestic priorities such as infrastructure, health, education and housing. A local medical and public‑health advocacy group represented protest viewpoints at the event.
The name Wisconsin has a long naval history. An earlier USS Wisconsin (BB‑9) was an early 20th‑century battleship that served as a fleet flagship before being decommissioned and sold for scrap in the 1920s. Another USS Wisconsin (BB‑64), a World War II‑era Iowa‑class battleship, saw action in the Pacific, served again during the Korean War and was returned to service in the early 1990s; it now serves as a museum ship. The new SSBN will carry the Wisconsin name into the submarine era.
Construction will continue over the coming years at facilities in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Virginia, with major subcontracting and parts production spread across the country. The keel‑laying marks the ceremony’s conclusion and the start of the next phase of fabrication and assembly.
A keel‑laying is a naval tradition that ceremonially marks the start of a ship’s construction. For modern submarines with rounded hulls, a sponsor typically welds initials onto a plate that will be permanently mounted aboard.
The ceremony took place on August 27 at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
SSBN 827 is the second Columbia‑class ballistic missile submarine, a nuclear‑powered “boomer” designed for stealth and to provide a secure second‑strike deterrent.
The program is a teaming effort between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding, with thousands of suppliers nationwide contributing parts and services.
The estimated program cost for this submarine is about $9 billion, and it is expected to enter service around 2031.
Yes. Watch parties and public events accompanied the keel‑laying in multiple locations. Some events included protests that called for redirected spending to domestic needs such as infrastructure and social services.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | USS Wisconsin |
| Hull Number | SSBN 827 |
| Class | Columbia‑class (ballistic missile submarine) |
| Role | Undetectable launch platform for submarine‑launched ballistic missiles; strategic deterrence |
| Displacement (submerged) | Approximately 20,810 tons |
| Power | Nuclear |
| Crew Rotation | Two crews (Blue and Gold) |
| Projected In‑Service | 2031 |
| Estimated Cost | About $9 billion |
| Primary Builders | General Dynamics Electric Boat; Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News Shipbuilding) |
| Supplier Network | More than 3,000 suppliers nationwide; 300+ from Wisconsin |
| Sponsor / Keel Authenticator | Dr. Kelly Geurts (retired educator, military spouse) |
Reporter: Prabhat Ranjan Mishra. This report summarizes ceremony details, program facts and community response surrounding the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) keel‑laying.
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