OKLAHOMA Team,
The past few months have been heavy on construction work but light on ship's force work. We have been busy training and getting ready for our next milestone that we commenced today with filling our steam generators with water. The last remaining module arrived in May from Electric Boat, so now all of our modules are on the shipyard here in Newport News and we are targeting all of them being lined up ready to weld together by the end of the year. Making great progress, but still a ways to go before we are in the water.
We released our next round of shirts and sweatshirts through a fundraiser with artwork designed by one of our own, Senior Chief Cox's daughter, Susan Cox. STSCS Cox is also originally from Chickasha, OK. Susan gave us a great Thundering Bass design! The link is below so you can order sweatshirts, physical training shirts (ones we authorize for command PT), or regular t-shirts (ones we authorize for wear in uniform as undershirts). The link can be shared with anyone you see fit.
https://www.customink.com/fundraising/pcu-oklahoma-ssn-802
We have also started planning our next namesake visit to Oklahoma in September. We expect to be in Oklahoma City from September 08-10 and Tulsa September 11-13. We plan on attending the TU vs Navy game on September 13. We have also been invited to Navy Week in Wichita Falls, TX the following week so will have more Sailors there as well. The only people returning will be me and the chief of the boat so getting a whole new group of Sailors introduced to all that Oklahoma has to offer. More to follow on trip details.
One of the final things I want to do before I leave OKLAHOMA is set up a leadership library onboard. I plan on donating a few books that I have found valuable. You had mentioned that some of the major donors were asking if there was anything they could do as well. I thought it might be cool if the Honorary Plank Owners would each donate a book with a note in the cover on why it impacted them. The books would remain onboard OKLAHOMA to be available for all to read
V/r
CDR Aaron M. Stutzman, Ed.D.
CO PCU OKLAHOMA (SSN 802)
Thundering Bass! Strike Hard, Strike Fast!
