Capt. Jon Rucker

Navy: USS Columbia Will Have Most Complete Design Ever at Official Construction Start

Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy Image

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Navy will have the most complete design ever and will be well into construction when the “official start” of construction on the lead Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine occurs on Oct. 1, 2020, the service’s program manager said.

Capt. Jon Rucker said this week that his Columbia class of SSBNs is on a tight schedule – not just to deliver the lead ship in time for an October 2031 first patrol,...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/08/navy-uss-columbia-will-have-most-completed-design-ever-at-official-construction-start

Navy Appoints Admiral to Oversee Columbia Sub Effort

Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy image.

THE PENTAGON – The Navy is standing up a new Program Executive Office for Columbia, pulling the ballistic-missile submarines out of the PEO Submarines portfolio and giving it a one-star admiral who can provide constant focus and leadership as the Columbia program moves from design into construction. 

James Geurts, the Navy’s acquisition chief, told a small group of reporters today that the decision to create a new PEO now...

https://news.usni.org/2019/03/06/navy-standing-peo-columbia-ensure

Columbia-class Program Upping Oversight of Vendors, Components to Stave Off Further Delays

Gold crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) arrives home to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash. US Navy Photo

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy has no wiggle room when it comes to a planned October 2020 start of construction on the first new ballistic missile submarine, so the Columbia-class program office has cranked up its interaction with and oversight of vendors big and small within the program.

To stay on top of the major milestones – start of construction, delivery...

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/08/columbia-class-program-upping-oversight-of-vendors-components-to-stave-off-further-delays