Sponsor Linda Anne Rich Bowman Christens the submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard as Commander, Submarine Force Adm. John J. Donnelly and Northrop Grumman Newport News President Mike Petters look on. North Carolina is the fourth Virginia-class submarine built and the first major U.S. Navy combatant vessel class designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind. North Carolina is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2007. Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman