The US Navy has laid the keel for future Virginia-class submarine Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut.
The initials of the submarine's sponsor, Darleen Greenert, were welded on to a steel plate that will be permanently affixed to the submarine.
Admiral Rickover served for 63 years on active duty service, making him the longest-serving member of the US armed forces in history.
In the late 1940s, he led the efforts to develop what would become the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.
Admiral Rickover also established and enforced strict safety standards, leading to the US Navy's safety record of over 162,000,000 miles safely steamed on nuclear power.
Construction of the submarine began on September 30, 2015.
