USS Montana (SSN 794) is “ready to meet our nation’s call” after traveling 10,000 nautical miles from Norfolk to its new home at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oahu, Hawaii.

That is according to the submarine’s commander, Cmdr. John Gilligan, who recently shared his thoughts with the USS Montana Committee in a question-and-answer session via email.

Gilligan described how the crew’s families are settling in to their new home, and how the sailors have adjusted to the pace of submarine life. They arrived in Hawaii in late December.

“It feels great to be the captain of this amazing warship,” he said. “I love my job. I couldn’t be happier with the ship or her crew.”

Newport News Shipbuilding delivered Montana to the U.S. Navy in March 2022. The Virginia-class submarine returned to NNS for post-shakedown availability work and was redelivered in November 2024.

The crew trains constantly, both aboard the ship and through the courses, schools, and simulators at Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific. “We hone our craft and maintain our ship so we’ll be ready to fight and win if needed,” he said.

Read the full interview here, and watch this documentary on the submarine.