The US Navy has announced that a new submarine will be named after former Secretary of the Navy, John H. Dalton. The vessel, which will be a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, will be called the USS John H. Dalton. The decision was made at the US Naval Academy’s Submarine Officer Selectee Dinner, where Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro made the announcement.
The Submarine
John Dalton was the 70th Secretary of the Navy, serving in the position from 1993 to 1998. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and had a distinguished career in the US Navy, serving on two submarines before leaving active duty. President Bill Clinton nominated Dalton to be Secretary of the Navy in 1993, and he served in the role for five years.
Secretary Del Toro praised Dalton’s service, saying, “He served as a proud submariner and as Secretary of the Navy. He took strong and principled stands against sexual assault and harassment and oversaw the integration of female Sailors onto combat ships. The changes he drove almost 30 years ago are evident in all corners of our Navy today, with women serving on, above, and below the sea.”
The Virginia-class submarines are designed to find and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships, as well as project the Navy’s power onshore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and by transporting special operations forces. They are considered among the most advanced submarines in the world, with advanced stealth capabilities and a range of up to 12,000 nautical miles.
After leaving the position of Secretary of the Navy, Dalton returned to the private sector and was involved in several charitable organizations, including the White House Historical Association, Washington National Cathedral, Habitat for Humanity, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The decision to name a submarine after Dalton is a fitting tribute to his service to the country and his contributions to the Navy. It also underscores the importance of the Navy’s mission in protecting the country and projecting power around the world.
The naming of naval vessels has a long tradition in the US Navy, with ships often named after states, cities, or notable figures in US histor