Port Canaveral, FL – The U.S. Navy’s newest fast-attack submarine, the USS Indiana (SSN 789), will be commissioned at Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU) on September 29, 2018.  The historic commissioning event is expected to draw attendance by senior military leaders, elected and appointed governmental officials and numerous business and community leaders. A series of commissioning-related events will be held at Port Canaveral prior to and after the commissioning ceremony. 

The commissioning ceremony is a U.S. Navy tradition to mark the official entry of a vessel into the Navy’s fleet. The USS Indiana is the third U.S. Navy ship, yet the first submarine to carry the state of Indiana namesake. Diane Donald, wife of retired Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, is the ship's sponsor. Adm. Donald is recognized worldwide as a top nuclear power leader. Prior to his retirement in 2013, Adm. Kirkland served in the dual-hatted position as Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

This will be the first submarine commissioning at Port Canaveral, however it is the third Naval ship commissioning to be held at the Port. The USS Mason (DDG 87) was commissioned in April 2003, and the USS Porter (DDG 78) in March 1999.

“The commissioning of the USS Indiana will be a special day of pride for our Port. It has been many years in the making and we are honored to play a role in this historic event,” stated Captain John Murray, Port CEO.

The series of USS Indiana Commissioning events will start with a 5-kilometer run on Friday morning, September 28th from the Port’s Exploration Tower. The formal commissioning ceremony will take place Saturday morning, September 29th at NOTU. Attendance at the commissioning event is by Navy’s invitation only. Following the ceremony, the Commissioning Committee will host public tours and a public post-commissioning reception. On Sunday morning, September 30th, the Commissioning Committee will host a morning prayer service at Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park.

The Navy says the submarine will help the U.S. maintain its undersea superiority well into the 21st century. Designed to operate in both coastal and deep-ocean environments, the USS Indiana is designed with a unique range of warfare capabilities and advanced technology. The USS Indiana is a part of the Virginia-class third, or Block III, contract, in which the Navy redesigned approximately 20-percent of the ship to reduce acquisition costs.  The reactor of the 7,800-ton and nearly 380-foot-long nuclear submarine won't require refueling during the boat's entire planned life.

Port Canaveral does not have tickets, nor will the Port have invitations to distribute to any individuals or groups interested in attending the Commissioning Ceremony or any of its related events.