Lightning Strikes Twice for California's First Submarine

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (NNS) -- Thousands of students throughout Southern California celebrated the first submarine named after their state with the "USS California (SSN 781) Science Experience," a technology showcase by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona Oct. 25-26.

The strategy was designed to spark the imagination of the Navy's next generation of scientists and engineers.

As part of the 12th annual Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) Conference - a signature science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) outreach for the Navy - the California Science Experience raised awareness of the boat's commissioning Saturday in Norfolk, Va. The effort built on prior christening events in the Golden State, a partnership between Corona and Team Submarine to use the latest Virginia-class submarine as a STEM education outreach tool.

"We're proud to partner with the Corona Warfare Center to help our California students learn about science, technology, engineering and math at the STEP Conference in Riverside," said USS California Commanding Officer Cmdr. Dana Nelson. "Building on the 'USS California Science Experience' last year, this is a great opportunity for the students to learn about science and engineering careers in the Navy."

When told the boat would be commissioned on Saturday as each science show got under way, the groups of more than 500 students stood, cheered and shouted out "Welcome to the Fleet" and "Silence is Golden," the boat's motto.

Nelson - reinforcing the Navy's renewed STEM strategy of inspiring, engaging, educating and collaborating - also sent a video message, to the students that was played during the Oh! Zone Science Show, an effort funded by a Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences grant.

"To all you students in the Golden State studying about science, technology, engineering and mathematics," he told the fourth- through eighth-grade students. "As the commanding officer of the USS California, I say keep it up. Our Navy and our nation need you!"

Morning and afternoon sessions filled the Riverside Convention Center, where students experienced 30 hands-on exhibits from high technology industry, the Army and the Navy's California Science Experience, which featured thermal imaging, laser demonstration, a GPS tracking system, the submersible SeaPerch robot and the USS California "mail call" exhibit where students, their parents and teachers sent hundreds of postcards and video messages to California's crew.

"The 'USS California Science Experience' was a unique opportunity to reach out to these students with the most technologically advanced submarine yet," said NSWC Corona's commanding officer Cmdr. Bill Harrell. "The synergy between the basic scientific principles of the science show and the applied technology of the hands-on Discovery Zone was a perfect combination. It's the right information, the right experience at the right age."

A huge hit with students was the debut of the Corona's remote controlled aerial airship, dubbed "Navy STEM Drone," looking like a stealthy "Star Wars" aircraft as it hovered over the crowds of students, zipping and dipping while beaming its wireless camera footage to smartphones, tablet computers and the two 12-foot video screens.

One middle-school student from Riverside Christian Day School, said he is a fanatic over robotics and is hot to fly an aircraft like that drone. "I love robotics!" he said, adding that he wants to design robotic tanks in the future.

Nancy Thornton, a Riverside parent and science teacher, said all the exhibits were creative and engaged students to take a more serious interest in science. "We've all learned so much here. They've learned about simple things, like a light bulb, and loved everything. It's been a lot of fun."

The mail call area, featuring a huge USS California brow banner filled with hundreds of goodwill messages signed during the christening event, also proved to be popular among students, who stopped by to send express their appreciation to the crew. They pondered what to write to the Sailors, and chose their words carefully as if sending a message to a brand new friend. "Be Safe," many wrote. "Thank you for serving" and "Don't open the hatch" were other messages.

The most notable visitor was fifth-generation Californian, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who recorded a video message to the crew after he added his message to the brow banner.

"I have a great sense of pride that you guys are launching the most sophisticated, technologically advanced [submarine] anywhere in the world. Keep it up! Everyone out here - 37 million of us strong - are thinking about you guys!"

As a Naval Sea Systems Command field activity, NSWC Corona supports Navy operations around the globe, serving as the Navy's independent assessment agent responsible for gauging the warfighting capability of weapons and integrated combat systems, through assessment of systems' performance, readiness, quality, supportability, and the adequacy of training.

The base is home to three premier national laboratories and assessment centers, the Joint Warfare Assessment Lab, the Measurement Science and Technology Lab and the new Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center, dedicated to fallen Sailor Petty Officer 1st Class Steven P. Daugherty of Barstow, Calif.

For more news from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, visit www.navy.mil/local/nswccorona/.