SSBN-826

The Namesake

The name USS District of Columbia honors the long and rich history of the Navy in the District

Although the USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) of the Columbia Class is the first U.S. Navy ship or Class of ships ever named after the District of Columbia, the Navy has a long and rich history within the District.

Just this past June, our shipbuilders laid the keel for the first of a new class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines that will underwrite the nation’s nuclear deterrent all the way out to the year 2080. The name of that class is COLUMBIA and the first ship is the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. What a great name!

—Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, remarks at Columbia University, 2022
  • The USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826) is the first U.S. Navy ship or submarine ever named after the District of Columbia.
  • SSBN-826 is the first boat in the new Columbia Class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which will replace the Navy’s current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs.
  • The Columbia Class is also the first time a class of Navy ships or submarines have been named after the District.
Historical Pictures

The Navy has a long and rich history within the District

“The District of Columbia is rich with naval history. The Washington Navy Yard is our oldest shore facility. Marines like Montford Point Marine Herman Darden and Brigadier General Anthony Henderson and Sailors like Yeoman Charlotte Louise Berry Winters and Medal of Honor Recipient First Class Fireman John Rush were born and raised in D.C. This is why I prefer to call D.C. not just our nation’s capital, but instead, our naval capital. The naming of the USS District of Columbia honors this.”

— Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, 3 June 2022 Press Release

We invite you to learn more about history of the Navy in the District. If you have pictures to share, please contact us.
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People

Meet some of the Naval Leaders born in DC

Admiral (Ret) Cecil D. Haney

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1955, Admiral Haney attended D.C. public schools before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978. His career as a Submariner included assignments aboard USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630), USS Frank Cable (AS-40), USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), USS Asheville (SSN-758), and Submarine Squadron 8, culminating in command of USS Honolulu (SSN-718) as well as multiple shore assignments. Admiral Haney retired after serving as Commander, U.S. Strategic Command as a four-star Admiral, which is the highest rank in the U.S. Navy.

Charlotte L. Berry

Charlotte L. Berry was born in 1897 and graduated from Washington Business High School in 1915. She took her secretarial skills to the Navy Department and in 1916 petitioned Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels for an appointment in the Navy to free men for combat duty by relieving them of clerical responsibilities; he said no. In March 1917, with the U.S. entry into war imminent and the Navy desperate for clerks and stenographers, he changed his mind and Mrs. Winters and her sister, Sophie, enlisted. By the end of WW I, over 11,000 women, designated Yeoman (F), served as clerks, translators, recruiters, camouflage designers, fingerprint experts, and nurses. Yeoman Winters served as a clerk at the Navy Yard until her discharge in 1919. She then served as a civilian secretary until her retirement in 1953. She was the oldest surviving female who had served in WW I at the time of her death in 2007.

Admiral (Ret) Joseph Paul Reason

Born in 1941, Admiral Reason graduated from McKinley Technical High School in 1958 and attended a number of universities before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in 1965 and entered the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program serving onboard USS Truxton (DLGN-35), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Mississippi (CGN-40), and commanded the USS Coontz (DDG-40) and later the USS Bainbridge (CGN-25). Admiral Reason served in multiple shore commands, including as the naval aide to President Jimmy Carter, and was the first African American promoted to four-star Admiral in the U.S. Navy. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet before retiring in 1999.

Rear Admiral (Ret) Sinclair Harris

A native of Washington, D.C., Admiral Harris attended Gonzaga College High School and later graduated from James Madison University. His early sea assignments included tours aboard USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Vincennes (CG-49), USS Jarrett (FFG-33), USS Coronado (AFG-11), USS Benfold (DDG-65) and commanded USS Comstock (LSD-45). During his command tour, he supported Operation Enduring Freedom as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as a non-combatant evacuation of Lebanon in 2006. Admiral Harris served in multiple shore assignments including as the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet and Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff before retiring in 2015.

John Philip Sousa

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1854, John Philip Sousa served as a Navy bandmaster from 1917 to 1919. Known most often for his work as head of the United States Marine Band in the late 19th century and his own band in the early 20th century, Sousa was brought back into naval service during World War I at the record age of 62. He was commissioned a lieutenant commander in the United States Naval Reserve and led the Navy Band at Great Lakes Naval Station outside of Chicago, Ill. This marked the first time any Navy musician became a commissioned officer. Among his best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (National March of the United States of America) and "Semper Fidelis" (official march of the United States Marine Corps).

John W. Warner

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1927, John William Warner served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974, and was a five-term U.S. Senator from Virginia from 1979 to 2009. Warner enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II in January 1945, shortly before his 18th birthday. He served until the following year, leaving as a Petty Officer Third Class. After the outbreak of the Korean War, Warner joined the United States Marine Corps in October 1950, and served in Korea as a ground aircraft maintenance officer with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Warner's service continued in the Marine Corps Reserves, and he eventually attained the rank of Captain.

Places

Follow the Navy’s journey through the District

National Museum of the United States Navy

Located on the Washington Navy Yard, the National Museum of the United States Navy (NMUSN) was established in 1961. The museum collects and displays historic naval artifacts and artwork, which trace the history of the United States Navy from the Revolutionary War to present day. With a collection that dates back to the 1800s, exhibits commemorate the Navy's heroes and battles, and celebrate contributions to exploration, navigation, and humanitarian service.

Washington Navy Yard

Located in Southeast D.C., the Washington Navy Yard is the U.S. Navy's oldest shore establishment. The base was officially established Oct. 2, 1799. It evolved from a shipbuilding center in the 1800s, to an ordnance plant until the mid- 1960s, and now serves as the ceremonial and administrative center for the Navy. USS Constitution even came to the yard in 1812 to refit and prepare for combat action. Today the yard is home to the Chief of Naval Operations and numerous naval commands.

United States Naval Observatory

Located in Northwest Washington, D.C., the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) opened in 1844. It operates to strengthen national security and critical infrastructure by serving as the Department of Defense’s (DoD) authoritative source for the positions and motion of celestial bodies, motions of the Earth, and precise time—the official time source for the DoD. The official residence of the U.S vice president is also located on the grounds of the USNO.

United States Navy Memorial

The U.S. Navy Memorial, located on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol, celebrates the rich heritage of the United States Navy. The memorial was dedicated on Oct. 13, 1987, the Navy’s 212th birthday. It is a place where visitors can pay tribute to the men and women of the sea services and learn more about the heritage of the United States Navy through interactive displays, priceless artifacts, oral histories, and creative visuals.

Farragut Square

Farragut Square is located north of the White House along Connecticut Avenue and pays tribute to the United States Navy’s first full admiral, David Farragut. His service began at age nine as a midshipman in the United States Navy. In 1864, President Lincoln promoted this Civil War hero to the rank of vice admiral. In 1866, Farragut was promoted to full admiral. He was honored with a statue made from bronze salvaged from the propeller of Farragut's Civil War flagship, USS Hartford.