Purdue contingent participates in USS INDIANA commissioning
The USS INDIANA is the 16th Virginia-class submarine to join the fleet. This high-tech vessel is considered one of the most powerful warships on Earth. Purdue President Mitch Daniels served as the Honorary Co-Chair of the commissioning.
Mung Chiang, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, and members and directors of the Purdue Chamber Choir also joined the pre-commissioning dinner reception for Indiana representatives. Chiang, honored to be a part of the commissioning, spoke at the event.
“Purdue University and its College of Engineering, which is now the largest among the top 10 in the United States, will always be in humble service of America,” the dean said. He delivered gifts to the U.S. Navy and crew of the submarine on behalf of the University.
“These gifts symbolize the ever strengthening relationship between Purdue and the Navy,” he said, “from the broad partnership with NSWC Crane in Indiana to the education by our School of Nuclear Engineering.”
Chiang presented the Indiana 2016 bicentennial torch during the ceremony, explaining that Purdue Engineering students and faculty designed, built and operated the torch that was carried across the state by runners, cyclists, racecar drivers, and even a swimmer.
Chiang also presented three photographs from Purdue’s archives that depict astronaut and first man on the moon Neil Armstrong’s ties to the Navy, Purdue, and space. Armstrong was a naval officer, attending Purdue engineering under the sponsorship of the Navy. The photos will permanently be displayed on the submarine.
The dean also discussed the College’s Navy-sponsored research over the last four years with $2.87M in awards. “This year, the College of Engineering set the new record in the volume of Navy-sponsored research that will advance engineering in the interest of national defense,” Chiang said.
Three CoE students among PMO performers at USS INDIANA commissioning
It was a whirlwind 24 hours and a trip that three engineering students won’t ever forget.
They, along with two PMO (Purdue Musical Organizations) directors and four fellow Purdue Chamber Choir members, accompanied Mung Chiang, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, for the commissioning of the USS INDIANA (SSN 789) naval submarine.
William Marrujo, an AAE senior, Julie Eigenbrod, an ME sophomore, and Hannah Doyle, a First Year Engineering (FYE) student, made the trip on Sept. 28 and are still gushing about the rare opportunity.
When approaching Cape Canaveral, the plane taxied at the space shuttle landing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, which was a special treat for Marrujo.
“As an aerospace engineer, it was a particularly special experience to see the rocket landing pads, runway, and vehicle assembly building from the air, especially when we passed a space shuttle orbiter sitting on the side of the runway,” he said.
As a freshman, Doyle has only been part of PMO for a short while. “I had no idea what to expect going into the organization, much less did I think I would have the opportunity to ride in the Purdue jet and be on a nuclear-powered submarine all within 24 hours,” she said.
“I’m from out of state (Connecticut) and came to Purdue specifically for engineering because of its distinguished name. It was crazy to hear so many mentions of our school at the commissioning itself as so many great names and contributions have come from the school that I never knew about.”
Eigenbrod, who describes herself as having a “rich and deep choral background,” says she has experienced many exciting trips around the world and has sung for many distinct audiences.
“However, I did not expect to ever perform on this level as a college student,” she said.
“I have never attended anything quite so significant and emotionally moving as this event,” Eigenbrod added. “When I first found out about our participation in the commissioning of a new naval nuclear submarine, my jaw dropped. I was filled with awe and excitement, and I could not wait to start rehearsing.”
The group performed at the gala on the eve of the commissioning and also at the official event. They sang the “National Anthem”, “Navy Hymn”, and a medley of Indiana songs, including “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
“At first, I was a bit nervous performing in front of so many major political figures, but after the first applause, I felt very joyous and relaxed and had a lot of fun with the rest of our repertoire,” Eigenbrod said.
Marrujo also felt “intimidated” performing at such a prestigious event, “but we were prepared, and in the end it was an enjoyable experience. At the gala the night before, we met many wonderful people, including Admiral (James) Caldwell, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and the ship’s sponsor Diane Donald.”
One of the highlights of the trip was touring the new submarine.
“I was amazed at the intricacies of the systems aboard and the robustness of their safety measures. I was even lucky enough to try out the periscope!” Marrujo said.
Added Doyle: “The actual tour of the submarine was definitely the coolest part. We got to see areas that we were curious about, like the operations rooms and the kitchen, but we also saw places that I hadn’t given much thought to before. Our guide led us to the room where they make their air and showed us their close sleeping quarters, which made it insane to even imagine living underwater for months at a time.”
All of the students agreed that it will be hard to top this experience when recounting the highlights of their college careers.
“As a senior this year, this was an amazing way to start my final year at Purdue. It was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime trip that few have the privilege of experiencing, and I am grateful to PMO, the commissioning committee, Dean Chiang, and all the others who made it possible,” Marrujo said.
“I loved how much everyone at the events praised us and thanked us for making the trip down to Florida,” Doyle said. “It was interesting how even though they were giving us the opportunity of a lifetime – and we thanked them a million times – they still thanked us for our time and truly appreciated the music we made.”
“I enjoyed how family-oriented this event was,” Eigenbrod said. “There were so many family members present, supporting their sons, husbands, and fathers as the crew ran and boarded the USS INDIANA. It was a very emotional moment, and I will cherish every second of it for the rest of my life. What an honor, what a privilege, to be down in Cape Canaveral and participate in this spectacular experience.”