Local committee seeks sponsors as Virginia-class submarine USS Utah nears christening

Tim Martin, a leader of the USS Utah sponsorship committee, briefed the council Jan. 22 on plans to support the submarine after it is commissioned and to raise awareness of the vessel’s historical name and connection to Utah.

Martin described the new USS Utah as a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine that will be the 28th in its class, with a planned crew “15 officers and 135 people” and an internal configuration he described as 377 feet long and about 34 feet in diameter. Construction began in 2021 and Martin said the keel was laid in 2021; christening and commissioning activity is expected in the mid-2020s with the commissioning ceremony anticipated in Groton, Connecticut, once sea trials and final work conclude.

The local committee — which Martin said has formed scholarship and crewmember-support programs — is seeking to raise $900,000 for programmatic support, crew-family scholarships and quality-of-life improvements. Martin reported the committee has raised “above the 214,000” to date and said the State of Utah committed $100,000; he also said artists donated $80,000 (Martin’s exact phrasing was: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will never admit it, but they have artists also donated 80,000”). He also described a range of sponsorship levels that would include commemorative items, program advertising and invitations to commissioning events.

Martin said the committee’s goals include arranging vessel visits, a “plank owner” recognition program, scholarships for sailors’ families and a statewide educational campaign. He invited Washington City to consider corporate-level sponsorships that would bring program recognition during the christening and commissioning ceremonies.

What the council heard and next steps Council members and the mayor thanked Martin and committee members for the update; no formal city action or funding request was made at the Jan. 22 meeting. Martin said invitations and sponsorship materials would be distributed as the commissioning date and logistics are finalized in coordination with Navy officials.

Background details Martin supplied - Class and size: Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, approximately 377 feet long and 34-foot diameter. 12 vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk missiles (as Martin described), plus configuration changes he listed that are characteristic of modern Virginia-class boats. - Timeline: Keel laid 2021; Martin said earlier commissioning target dates have slipped and that final in-service dates are expected in the mid/late 2020s as sea trials and outfitting proceed. - Committee goals: target $900,000 (funding used for crew-family scholarships, visits, quality-of-life improvements and commemorative and educational programming). Martin reported more than $214,000 raised so far and noted a $100,000 state donation.

Martin’s presentation functioned as an informational briefing and a request for consideration of sponsorship; council members asked follow-up logistical questions and thanked committee leaders for pursuing state-level recognition of the USS Utah name.

Speakers at the council meeting included Tim Martin (USS Utah committee), Mike Lamoreaux (acting chairman, named in presentation), and committee volunteers who accompanied Martin. Council members did not take action at this meeting; Martin was invited to return with materials and formal sponsorship packages as plans and dates firm up.