Navy Submarine Chief Says Columbia-Class Delivery in 2028 Remains Achievable

Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, the Navy’s Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Submarines, said delivering the first Columbia-class submarine, District of Columbia, in 2028 remains achievable. He described the schedule as difficult and said it will require significant work.

Key details

• General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding are building District of Columbia.
• The second submarine in the class is named Wisconsin.
• At a February 2026 conference, Rear Adm. Todd Weeks said District of Columbia was about 65% complete and Wisconsin about 35% complete.
• The Navy and its shipbuilding partners set an acceleration plan in 2025 to deliver all Columbia-class modules to Electric Boat’s final assembly yard in Groton, Connecticut, by the end of that year.
• Leonardo DRS developed the class’s electric-drive power-propulsion system.

Rear Adm. Todd Weeks said District of Columbia was about 65% complete in February 2026.