“There is no better homecoming than the return from a long and challenging deployment. It is a special sort of Thanksgiving that our Sailors will be celebrating, one that rejoices because of families reunited,” said Capt. John Stafford, commodore of Submarine Squadron 4.

“I can speak for all of our Groton shipmates when I offer our tremendous admiration and pride for the accomplishment of a well-executed deployment,” he continued. “And we extend our eternal gratitude to the families whose own service and sacrifice enabled such a bold commitment to liberty and the values we hold dear as a nation. New England's winter will be a little warmer with their submariners home once again.”

The ceremonial first kiss upon return to homeport was awarded to Steffanie Dube and Seaman Kyle Hodgson, while the first hug was awarded to Brittany Porter and her husband, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Porter.

“Everyone is excited to have their ‘Vikings’ home,” said Allison VanDenburg, the Minnesota command ombudsman, whose husband, Senior Chief Petty Officer John VanDenburg, returned from his second deployment in three years with the ship Friday. Minnesota previously deployed in 2019.

“It’s been a long time and it was a challenging deployment,” she said. “This was the first deployment for a lot of people and the first deployment married for a lot of people.”

The homecoming also recognized members of the crew who were promoted to chief petty officer during the deployment. On shore at the submarine base, the chief petty officer pinning ceremony took place on Friday, Nov. 19. Minnesota’s new chief petty officers are Chief Yeoman Submarine Steven Shinavier, Chief Electronics Technician Navigation Submarine Alexander Alkema, and Machinist’s Mate, Non-Nuclear, Submarine Auxiliary Sean Ingino.

During its deployment, Minnesota steamed more than 45,000 nautical miles.

USS Minnesota was commissioned in 2013, the third U.S. Navy ship to share the name of the North Star State. The submarine Minnesota is more than 377 feet long and can displace nearly 7,900 tons.

Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.