The USS Massachusetts officially joined the Navy fleet in March 2026 after a commissioning ceremony, making it the first submarine named after the Bay State. The newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, which can dive to depths greater than 240 meters, was christened on May 6, 2023, by the sponsor, Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta. This is the 25th Virginia-Class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding and the fifth U.S. Navy vessel named after Massachusetts.
“To be able to take a ship from new construction and watch it be built together by the shipyard, train with our team and bring into Boston Harbor for the first time, it’s very amazing,” the sub’s commanding officer, Mike Siedsma, a 21-year Navy veteran who has spent time on four different classes of submarines, said March 27 ahead of the ceremony. “I looked at the history books. I don’t think we’ve had a submarine in Boston Harbor since sometime in the late ’80s or early ’90s.”
During the commission ceremony on the Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the event showcases the state’s “deep ties to our nation’s maritime and military history, and we are proud to see that legacy continue with this next generation of service.”