IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 488 

Commending and congratulating Commander David W. Alldridge and the 

crew of the USS Newport News (SSN 750) on the occasion of the 

20th anniversary of the ship’s commissioning. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 21, 2009 

Mr. WITTMAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Commending and congratulating Commander David W. 

Alldridge and the crew of the USS Newport News (SSN 

750) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 

ship’s commissioning. 

Whereas June 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the commissioning of the nuclear attack submarine USS Newport 

News (SSN 750), constructed by the Newport News 

Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in the city of Newport News; 

Whereas the submarine USS Newport News is the eighth vessel to bear the name of this proud shipbuilding city; 

Whereas three previous ships, including the heavy cruiser 

USS Newport News (CA 148), the most decorated ship 


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•HRES 488 IH 

from the east coast during the Vietnam campaign, have 

seen naval service; 

Whereas since its commissioning in June 1989, the submarine USS Newport News has steamed more than 

500,000 nautical miles in support of the Nation’s defense; 

Whereas the USS Newport News has provided emergent wartime Tomahawk strike warfare and intelligence support 

during Operation Desert Storm, and its deployment to 

the Mediterranean Sea, during Operation Desert Fox, 

during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on 

Terrorism; 

Whereas the USS Newport News, which provides the stealth, 

readiness, endurance, flexibility, and mission capability of 

the 688 Class nuclear fast attack submarine, has shown 

the flag during 40 foreign port visits and 4 transits of 

the Panama Canal; 

Whereas the USS Newport News has provided services for 

seven major multinational battle groups during NATO 

exercises, has conducted an emergent WESTLANT deployment, and has participated in the commemoration of 

the Allied landings at Normandy, Operation Sharp Guard 

in the Adriatic Sea, and Operation Southern Watch in 

the Red Sea; 

Whereas the USS Newport News has recorded several 

‘‘firsts’’ in the submarine force, including first to conduct 

successful launches of and upgrade of the Tomahawk 

Cruise Missile during both horizontally and vertically 

launched live-firing missile tests, first to provide a submarine launch of ADCAP torpedoes employing the most 

updated operational software, the first operational test 


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•HRES 488 IH 

launch of a BLK IV Tomahawk missile, first to transit 

the Suez Canal for emergent tasking, first to be graded 

‘‘excellent’’ in tactical readiness since the current formal 

inspection team was formed, and first to deploy with the 

Advanced Technical Information System, a network computer system located throughout the ship that improves 

the speed and efficiency of accessing technical information; 

Whereas the USS Newport News has been awarded the 

Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars, two 

Arctic Service Ribbons, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three bronze stars, the Navy Expeditionary 

Medal with two bronze stars, a Meritorious Unit Citation, 

a Navy Unit Citation, and the Sea Service Ribbon with 

one silver star and one bronze star; and 

Whereas the motto of the USS Newport News, Magni 

Ominus Umbra, relates the ship’s name to the well-established shipbuilding and naval traditions of the City of 

Newport News and the distinguished careers of the naval 

ships that have proudly carried this name: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 mends and congratulates Commander David W. Alldridge 

3 and the crew of the USS Newport News (SSN 750) on 

4 the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the ship’s commis5 sioning. 

Æ 


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