USS San Juan
(SSN 751)

Submarine Squadron TWELVE
Groton, Conn. (860) 694-3830

Cmdr. Oliver Lewis
Commanding Officer

The first San Juan (SP 1352) was built in 1904 by J.F. Duthie of Seattle, Washington and acquired by the Navy on December 20, 1917 on charter from the San Juan Packing Company of Seattle. She was converted for use as a minesweeper and patrol boat and commissioned on March 8, 1918 under the command of Ensign R.W. Jackson, USNRF. After the end of World War I, her services were no longer required and in February 1919, she was decommissioned and returned to her owner.

The second San Juan (CL 54) was laid down on May 15, 1940 by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Quincy, Mass. She was launched on September 6, 1941 and commissioned on February 28, 1942. During World War II, she participated in several of the great naval campaigns in the Pacific theater. San Juan arrived at Bremerton, Wash. for inactivation on January 24, 1946.

Technology has dramatically changed the size and capability of naval warships since the original San Juan served her country in World War I, but the mission of the USS San Juan (SSN 751) has not significantly changed. That mission is to protect the security interests of the United States of America.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisana, Cmdr. Lewis graduated from Boston University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics. Following commissioning and nuclear power training, he reported aboard USS Montpelier (SSN 765) and served as the Electrical Assistant, Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant and Damage Control Assistant during his three-year tour. He was a leader in the submarine’s transition from commissioning to its maiden deployment to the Mediterranean. Following his tour, he was transferred to the Chief of Naval Operations staff for Manpower and Personnel (N122) where he assisted in the development of the submarine manpower plan in the defense budget.

During follow-on training in the Submarine Officer Advanced Course, he received the L.Y. Spear and the David Lloyd awards, recognizing him for leadership and academic excellence. He was assigned as Engineer Officer aboard USS Pittsburgh (SSN 730) and completed two deployments to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf. Transferring ashore, he was assigned as the Submarine Squadron 8 Material Officer.

Cmdr. Lewis’ next assignment was as Executive Officer of USS Newport News (SSN 750) during which he deployed to the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans as the ship earned the Battle Efficiency “E” award for supurb service during 2005. Cmdr. Lewis’ last assignment was the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. where he provided strategc support of the DOD budget and legislative analysis on appropriation matters to the Chariman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the Director for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessments (J-8).

Cmdr. Lewis earned a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America in 1998 and he attended the MIT seminar XXI on Foreign Politics, International Relations and National Interest from September 2007 to June 2008.

Builders:   Newport News Shipbuilding Co.; General Dynamics Electric Boat Division
Powerplant:   One nuclear reactor, one shaft
Length:   360 feet (109.73 meters)
Beam:   33 feet (10.06 meters)
Displacement:   Approx. 6,900 tons (7,010.73 metric tons) submerged
Speed:   20+ knots (23+ MPH; 36,8+ KPH)
Crew:   13 officers, 121 enlisted
Armament:   Tomahawk cruise missiles, VLS tubes (719 and later), MK48 torpedoes, four torpedo tubes