NNS to Christen Massachusetts (SSN 798) May 6

Robert Vernon in Newport News Shipbuilding’s Pattern Shop puts finishing touches on a box that will hold the christening bottle after Massachusetts Ship’s Sponsor Sheryl Sandberg smashes it on the submarine’s hull. Photo by Lexi Whitehead

NNS to Christen Massachusetts (SSN 798) May 6

Published April 26, 2023

Newport News Shipbuilding will christen Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts Saturday, May 6.

During the ceremony, Ship’s Sponsor Sheryl Sandberg – founder and chair of the Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation – will perform the traditional honor of breaking a bottle of American sparkling wine on the submarine’s hull. Sandberg previously served as chief operating officer at Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The christening ceremony will be livestreamed beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, at hii.com/SSN798 and on the HII and Jennifer Boykin Facebook pages.