Absolutely Nothing To Do With The Bakken: USS North Dakota

A new Virginia-class nuclear submarine, the USS North Dakota.

Former North Dakota senator Byron Dorgan led the effort for the Navy to name a new USS North Dakota. According to a news release that his office issued in 2009, Dorgan invited Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., now former representative Earl Pomeroy and other distinguished North Dakotans to form the USS North Dakota Committee. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who was born in Scranton, was convinced to be honorary chairman. In July 2008, the effort paid off.

The state of North Dakota will miss Senator Byron Dorgan.  But my hunch is that our current reps (Senators and Representative) will also serve the state well.

SSN-784 is the first of eight submarines in Block III of the program.