Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Reiss, left, executive officer of the Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Mississippi (SSN 782), Capt. John McGrath, commanding officer, and Master Chief Machinist's Mate (Submarines) William Stoiber, chief of the boat, listen to remarks during the boat’s christening ceremony. Mississippi is the ninth Virginia-class submarine and the fifth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the Magnolia State. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Virginia K. Schaefer/Released)
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A host committee has been formed by Mayor Robbie Maxwell to plan for the commissioning ceremony on June 2 of the nuclear attack submarine Mississippi, said Jerry St. Pé, who is assisting the mayor with the planning.
The committee held its second meeting on Tuesday, he said.
"At the current time, it is composed of about 12 people," said St. Pé. "That committee will clearly expand over the next weeks as we get more into the planning of the events that are associated with the ship's stay here in Pascagoula."
From 4,000 to 5,000 people are expected to visit Pascagoula for the commissioning, he said.
"It is just a great event and it is just not a patriotic event, but it will draw large numbers of people to our community," said St. Pé, who, as former president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, hosted numerous christenings and commissionings in Pascagoula.
Among those visitors will be high officials in the Navy and Department of Defense, he said.
"It is another great occasion to showcase not just Mississippi, but the Gulf Coast region," he said.
About a half-dozen major events are associated with the commissioning, St. Pé said.
Planning for the crew includes social events and community service projects for them to perform, he said.
The Mississippi is scheduled to be berthed at the Port of Pascagoula on the west side of the Pascagoula River for a week, he said.
Capt. John McGrath, the commanding officer of Pre-Commissioning Unit Mississippi visited the state Sunday through Tuesday, in part to plan for the commissioning, a Navy news release stated.
St. Pé said the mayor and local committee members were unable to meet with the captain during the visit.
The local sponsor for the commissioning is the Meridian Area Navy League, St. Pé said.
During his visit, McGrath was to meet with University of Mississippi and University of Memphis NROTC midshipman and their faculty; members of the Mississippi Commissioning Committee; and the Eastern Mississippi Business Council.
The Mississippi is the Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine.
Virginia-class submarines are built under a teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News, the Navy news release stated.
Construction on the submarine began in February 2007.
McGrath, a native of Neptune, N.J., leads a crew of about 140 officers and enlisted personnel. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990, earning a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering.
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