The Iowa State University (ISU) Naval ROTC unit welcomed Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to campus for a naming ceremony of the Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine USS Iowa (SSN 797), Sept. 2.

"Iowa State University was chosen as the site for this historic ceremony due to its strong Naval ROTC unit, the only one in Iowa," said ISU President Steven Leath.

The building where the ceremony was held, the Memorial Union, was built to honor Iowa State Alumni killed in World War I, and now stands as a monument to all alumni who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

After opening remarks by Leath, Mabus took the podium to talk about the numerous contributions Iowa has made to the military and the Navy.

This is the fourth ship to be named after the state, and will join the storied ranks of warships named Iowa.

"We are once again naming a ship, the most technologically advanced ship in the world, after Iowa," said Mabus. "It is my honor and pleasure to officially designate our newest nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Iowa."

The historic naming ceremony gave ISU NROTC unit a chance to celebrate its own 70th anniversary as well as to remember the 70th anniversary of the ending of World War II.

The Cyclone Battalion has commissioned hundreds of officers to serve the Navy and Marine Corps during its time on campus, including former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin who was present at the naming cermony.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad told the gathered audience about the Navy's role in global security, and how the new USS Iowa will support that role. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Leath, Branstad, and Mabus all signed a graphic representation of the submarine.

After the ceremony, the Secretary took the midshipmen of the Cyclone Battalion aside and gave them the rare opportunity to ask him anything. He answered questions on leadership and plans for his office. "You midshipmen are the future of the Navy," said Mabus. "When you put on that uniform, you are representing the rest of America, and you will be the ones to carry out its vision."

The future USS Iowa will be the fourth naval vessel to bear the name. The first, a 3,200-ton gunboat, dates back to 1864. The second was commissioned in 1897 and is best known for its initial spotting of Spanish ships off the coast of Cuba and the resulting first shot fired during the Spanish American War's Battle of Santiago.

The third Iowa (BB 61) was commissioned in 1943 and earned 11 battle stars - nine for World War II and two for the Korean War - for campaigns in places from the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Rota, Okinawa, the Philippines and North Korea. After returning from combat, Iowa served the remainder of her days running training cruises and operational exercises before being decommissioned in 1958.

It was then re-commissioned in 1984 to help expand the size of the fleet during the Cold War and then decommissioned a final time in 1990.

Virginia-class attack submarines provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. They have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

These submarines have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert, long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. They are also designed for Special Forces delivery and support.

Each Virginia-class submarine is 7,800-tons and 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. They are designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.

The submarine will be built under a unique teaming agreement between General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division wherein both companies build certain portions of each submarine and then alternate deliveries. Iowa will be delivered by GDEB located in Groton, Connecticut.

The NROTC program, overseen by Rear Adm. Steven C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values. Once the college graduates are commissioned as Naval officers, they will possess a basic professional background, will be motivated toward careers in the naval service and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development program. NSTC includes Recruit Training Command (RTC), NROTC units at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command (OTC) at Naval Station Newport, R. I., and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about NROTC, visit https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/. For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.