USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730)
"Henry M. Jackson" originally was to have been named "Rhode Island". The contract to build "Rhode Island" was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation at Groton, Connecticut, on 6 June 1977 and her keel was laid down there on 19 January 1981. Shortly after Senator Jackson suddenly died in office on 1 September 1983, "Rhode Island" was renamed "Henry M. Jackson", and the original name transferred to another "Ohio"-class boat, hull number . The US Navy stated that: ""Henry M. Jackson" was launched on 15 October 1983, at Groton, Connecticut, sponsored by Senator Jackson's daughter, Ms. Anna Marie Jackson, and commissioned on 6 October 1984, with Captain R. Tindal in command of the Blue Crew and Captain M. A. Farmer in command of the Gold Crew." Since 1990, the submarine, known as the "Defender of Freedom" has been assigned primarily to the potrolling of the Pacific Ocean and the Middle Pacific. The US Navy reported that: "On May 15, 2012, Henry M. Jackson became the first Ohio-class SSBN to complete 80 Trident strategic deterrent patrols. " The crew of "Henry M. Jackson" is very active in volunteer work, and has adopted a highway and donated time to the Salvation Army, among many other activities. "Henry M Jackson" was awarded the 2020 Battle Efficiency "E" for Submarine Squadron Seventeen. The Battle Efficiency E Award recognizes a command's outstanding performance and overall readiness to carry out its assigned wartime tasks. "Henry M Jackson"s Blue crew was awarded the 2020 Hugh McCracken award for the "Best CPO Mess" in the Pacific Submarine Fleet. "Henry M Jackson" was awarded the 2020 Omaha Trophy in recognition of their outstanding support to USSTRATCOM's Strategic Deterrence mission.
Construction and commissioning
USS "Henry M. Jackson" (SSBN-730) is a United States Navy ballistic missile submarine that has been in commission since 1984. She is the only U.S. Navy vessel to have been named for United States Senator Henry M. Jackson (1912–1983) of Washington and the only "Ohio"-class submarine not named after a U.S. state.