Who We Are
Meet the people behind the support. The USS Arkansas Commissioning Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of dedicated Arkansans working to honor the crew of SSN 800 and celebrate its connection to our state. On this page, you’ll learn more about who we are, our mission, and how we’re bringing communities together to support the submarine and its sailors—now and for generations to come.
How the Committee Was Formed
In June 2016, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the U.S. Navy’s next Virginia-class submarine, SSN 800, would proudly bear the name USS Arkansas—a significant and rare honor for the state. It marked only the fifth time in history that a Navy vessel would carry the name, linking Arkansas to a proud naval legacy.
With that announcement came a sense of duty—not only to honor the ship and her mission, but to welcome her crew into the Arkansas community. To answer that call, a group of veterans, civic leaders, and dedicated citizens came together to form the USS Arkansas Commissioning Committee, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to representing the state and supporting the crew.
The committee was created to help fulfill two key responsibilities: first, to serve as the bridge between the people of Arkansas and the submarine’s crew, introducing them to the state they represent. Second, to plan and fund the ceremonial events leading up to and during the ship’s commissioning—a tradition rooted in Naval history and made possible through community support.
What began as a shared sense of pride has grown into a focused mission: to ensure the USS Arkansas is welcomed into service with the honor, tradition, and celebration it deserves.
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What We Do
One of the committee’s primary responsibilities is to plan and fund a series of key events during Commissioning Week, creating opportunities for crew members, their families, and the people of Arkansas to come together in celebration and gratitude.
Sponsor’s Luncheon
A formal lunch honoring the ship’s Sponsor, hosted with the Commanding Officer and committee leadership.
Crew Reception
A casual event welcoming the crew and their families, often including ship tours and presentations to original crew members.
Chairman’s Reception
The week’s premier formal event recognizing key supporters, industry partners, and the commissioning team.
Post-Ceremony Reception
A light social gathering following the commissioning ceremony for guests to meet the crew and leadership.
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State Representation
The committee serves as a cultural ambassador, ensuring the ship and crew are meaningfully connected to Arkansas traditions.
Legacy Gifts
We provide commemorative items and permanent onboard displays that honor the ship’s heritage and Arkansas’s support.
Meet the Committee
Leadership
A team of committed Arkansans working behind the scenes to welcome the USS Arkansas and her crew—celebrating their service and strengthening the bond between ship and state.
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The Sponsors: The Little Rock Nine
In a powerful nod to Arkansas’s legacy of courage, progress, and resilience, the Little Rock Nine have been named the official Sponsors of the USS Arkansas (SSN 800). This historic group of nine African American students—Melba Pattillo Beals, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Thelma Mothershed, Terrence Roberts, and Jefferson Thomas—made national headlines in 1957 when they integrated Little Rock Central High School following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision.
Facing violent mobs, political resistance, and threats to their safety, the students were escorted into the school by federal troops at the direction of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Their bravery became a defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement, and their story remains a symbol of justice, perseverance, and the ongoing fight for equality.
Naming the Little Rock Nine as Sponsors reflects not only their remarkable personal legacies but also the enduring values they represent—courage in the face of adversity, unity in the pursuit of a higher mission, and an unwavering belief in the power of change. Their role as Sponsors forever ties their legacy to the USS Arkansas, infusing the ship with purpose, history, and hope for generations to come.
As Sponsors, their names and influence will live on in naval tradition, serving as a source of inspiration for the crew and all who serve aboard her.
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