While underway, Commanding Officer, CDR Mark Prokopius, emailed “We are lucky to have 15 ‘tigers’, including my father, on board for our trip to Groton. All are having a great time in what for many will be a once in a lifetime experience.” Operation Tiger Cruise is a naval tradition set aside for friends and relatives to experience life at sea and to ride home with a naval warship. For submarines, tigers are male members of crew families although with women now being assigned to submarine duty, the male restriction may someday be lifted.

The trip to Groton marks the end of NEW MEXICO’s Shakedown Cruise which included acoustic trials in the Bahamas and other training exercises and tests in the Caribbean.

NEW MEXICO passed the historic 100-year old offshore lighthouse, known as the Ledge Light, at the entrance to New London Harbor. She then cruised up the Thames, passing New London on her starboard side and Groton and the General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) shipyard on her port side, then under the I-95 bridge, and past the US Coast Guard Academy. She arrived at her new home on June 1st.

NEW MEXICO Passes Ledge Light

GDEB built the straight hull sections of NEW MEXICO, as well as the Combat Control Center, living quarters, auxiliary machinery room and engine room. She was assembled at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, VA. Both shipbuilders, under a unique teaming agreement, take credit for delivering NEW MEXICO four months ahead of contract schedule.

While she is the Navy’s newest attack submarine, and in fact is fully operational and combat-ready, NEW MEXICO will soon be dry-docked for her Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA) period at the GDEB shipyard. PSA is a scheduled milestone for correcting any defects noted during sea trials or shakedown cruises, and for accomplishing equipment modernization and other system improvements.

NEW MEXICO Moving up the Thames River

NEW MEXICO is now assigned to Submarine Squadron Four (CSS4) which includes her Virginia-class sisters NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH CAROLINA and VIRGINIA. The Squadron Commander is CAPT Michael Bernacchi.

Following PSA there will be more crew training and system testing as NEW MEXICO prepares for her eventual maiden deployment

NEW MEXICO Approaching the Pier at the Naval Submarine Base New London

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited sailors aboard the Navy’s newest Virginia-class submarine, USS New Mexico (SSN 779), during his first submarine embark as secretary May 11.
Mabus experienced the ship’s movement during angles and dangles, high speed turns, and standing on the bridge in the ship’s sail while the submarine was surfaced.

SECNAV Ray Mabus at the Pilot Station

This has been such an informative day. I am amazed at the level of skill and the level of expertise of our sailors,” Mabus said. “The ability to fully operate a Virginia-class submarine and all of its complex systems is truly remarkable. Our sailors continually show that they are the best trained and the best skilled force our nation has seen.”

Mabus also took part in a submarine warfare qualification pinning known as the Dolphin Ceremony. It recognizes enlisted and officers’ completion of a yearlong qualification process that familiarizes them with virtually all of the submarine’s systems. Mabus pinned the newly acquired submarine warfare insignia on LTJG Vincent Bove and Sonar Technician Seaman Kyle Hassler.

SECNAV Ray Mabus with CDR Mark Prokopius in the Torpedo Room

“This has been an extraordinary experience for me. The reason I’m here today is to thank you for your service,” Mabus said. “Your expertise is so crucial to the Navy’s mission. Because of your vital role, you spend more time away from home and your families. I want you to know that I appreciate you and your families’ service and sacrifice.”

New Mexico is the sixth submarine of the Virginia-class. It has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements to meet the challenges of the 21st century and the Navy’s multi-mission requirements.

SECNAV with Crewmembers in the Crew’s Mess

SECNAV Ray Mabus on the Bridge

Rep. Martin Heinrich introduced H.R. 1132 to honor the USS New Mexico as the sixth Virginia-class submarine commissioned by the U.S. Navy to protect and defend the United States of America. The USS New Mexico was commissioned on March 27, 2010 at Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia.

Read H.R. 1132:

Rep. Heinrich’s prepared remarks were:

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 1132, honoring the USS New Mexico as the sixth Virginia-class submarine commissioned by the U.S. Navy to protect and defend the United States of America.
I would like to thank my New Mexico colleagues Mr. Teague and Mr. Luján for their work in bringing this resolution to the floor.

The USS New Mexico was commissioned on March 27th, 2010 as the newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine in the United States Navy. I was incredibly proud to be at Norfolk Naval Base that day, to commission the submarine and to salute the officers and crew as they set out to protect our nation at sea.
Constructed nearly four months ahead of schedule, this world-class platform contains some of the most advanced technologies in the entire force.

Among its many capabilities, this nuclear submarine will be able to attack targets ashore with highly-accurate Tomahawk missiles, while also conducting covert surveillance missions in both deep and littoral waters. This fast-attack sub will move at speeds of more than 25 knots while submerged and remain underwater for extended periods of time.

Advances in technology have allowed the submarine to no longer require periscopes, and instead use high-resolution cameras incorporated with light and infrared sensors to guide the ship.

The New Mexico will provide important battle group and joint task force support, ensuring stealth, endurance, and agility under the sea.As a proud New Mexican, I would like to personally thank the USS New Mexico Commissioning Committee of the Navy League’s statewide council for leading a 5-year initiative to name the sixth Virginia-class submarine after the “Land of Enchantment.” They have also played a tremendous role in preparing construction milestone ceremonies and supporting crew activities throughout the construction of the ship.

I would also wish to congratulate Ms. Emilee Sena of Albuquerque for submitting the winning design for the crest of the USS New Mexico.

Finally, I would like to recognize the Commander Mark Prokopius, Commanding Officer of the USS New Mexico, and his crew for working to incorporate a sense of New Mexican culture within the ship, including naming the ship’s galley “La Posta” after a restaurant in Mesilla, New Mexico.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating the U.S. Navy and the crew of the USS New Mexico on its commissioning and thanking the hard-working shipbuilders who constructed one of the most advanced ships to ever patrol the seas.

By Brook Stockberger, Las Cruces Sun- News, April 11, 2010

LAS CRUCES - Cindy Sheldon has lived her whole life in the desert, but water has played an important role in her livelihood.

In the 1970s, she designed waterbeds while she lived in Phoenix. Now, more than three decades later, she has made 432 curtains that will spend most of their life under the surface of the ocean.

Sheldon, 55, has operated her company, Simply Windows, for 20 years here in Las Cruces. Two years ago she was approached to see if she would be interested in making the curtains on the U.S.S. New Mexico, a new Navy submarine.

She heard from Rob and Ray Sanchez, brothers who own New Mexico Fabric and Foam in Albuquerque, who felt she would be right for the job.

“I bid it in 2008 and I didn’t think I got,” Sheldon said. “They had to re-pick some fabrics and then had to get specifications for fire retardancy. Finally Rob called and said, ‘OK, you’re fabric will be to you soon.’ I literally had only two months!”

Sheldon completed the job on Oct. 1. The 432 berthing curtains cover each compartment where the sailors sleep. She said the contract for the job was about $20,000.

“The committee wanted everything to be Southwest (style) and wanted as much as possible for everything to be made in New Mexico,” Sheldon said.

She said the job came along at the right time because, due to the recession, jobs have been scarce, so she had time to make the curtains for the Navy.

“At one point I had two (full-time) helpers and one part-time worker,” she said. “Now I have just one helper.” When (the recession) hit, people just don’t want to spend money for that kind of stuff right now.”

The “stuff” she refers to are custom-designed curtains, bed spreads, shams, draperies and other items.

Sheldon moved to Las Cruces in 1983 and worked in someone else’s shop before she opened her own business in 1990.

While in Phoenix, she applied for a job and found herself designing waterbeds.

“In the ’70s they were really popular,” Sheldon said. “I just needed a job and the guy hired me and before I knew it, I was doing the designs and styles.”

When she’s not up to her elbows in fabric, Sheldon said she enjoys the outdoors.

“I love to go bicycling and hiking,” she said. “Me and my daughter (Chance) every year on the Fourth of July go hiking up into the Gila Mountains.”

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Webmaster Note: The curtains that were made by Cindy Sheldon are for the crew’s bunks. Each bunk has several curtains that block light & noise and provide privacy.