John Pinsonneault

USS Finback (SSN-670) was a Sturgeon-class attack submarine commissioned into the United States Navy on February 4, 1970. Designed for anti-submarine warfare and intelligence-gathering missions during the Cold War, she conducted numerous patrols and participated in fleet exercises throughout the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Finback played a significant role in supporting U.S. naval operations, enhancing undersea warfare capabilities, and maintaining a strategic deterrent presence. After nearly three decades of distinguished service, she was decommissioned on March 28, 1997.

USS Franklin D Roosevelt

U.S. Navy

The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was an aircraft carrier in the United States Navy named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was commissioned in 1945 and served during World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. The ship played a significant role in various military operations and was eventually decommissioned in 1977. The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was the last U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to be powered by conventional steam turbines.

Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Ballston Spa, NY, was established in the 1950s as part of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, under the direction of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. The facility, located at the Kenneth A. Kesselring Site, has served as a critical training center for naval personnel operating the Navy’s nuclear-powered ships and submarines. Over the decades, NPTU Ballston Spa has provided hands-on training with land-based nuclear reactor prototypes, ensuring the Navy maintains a highly skilled corps of nuclear-trained sailors. The site continues to play a vital role in supporting national defense by preparing sailors for duty in the Navy’s nuclear fleet.