The keel for Columbia-class submarine Wisconsin (SSBN 827) was laid during an Aug. 27 ceremony at the General Dynamics Electric Boat Quonset Point facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

The keel laying ceremony signifies a major milestone in the life of a ship as it begins to transition from design to reality. Wisconsin will be the second Columbia-class submarine, following District of Columbia (SSBN 826).

Newport News Shipbuilding is a major shipbuilding partner in the Columbia-class program, constructing and delivering six module sections per submarine under contract to Electric Boat.

Under the watchful eye of an Electric Boat welder, Ship’s Sponsor Dr. Kelly Geurts, a retired educator and military spouse, welded her initials onto the keel plate during the ceremony.

Adm. William Houston, director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, directly addressed shipbuilders in his keynote remarks at the ceremony. “To our shipbuilders, engineers and suppliers: your craftsmanship makes this possible. You are laying not just a keel, but the foundation of security for generations to come,” he said.