Future Nuclear-Powered Attack Sub USS Long Island (SSN 809) Gets Official Sponsor, Announces SECNAV Del Toro

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, announced today that Iris Weinshall, Chief Operating Officer of the New York Public Library and spouse of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, will be the sponsor of the future USS Long Island (SSN 809). The announcement was made during a ship naming celebration at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on September 27, 2024.

Sponsors hold a unique role, maintaining a lifelong connection with the ship and its crew. “I am honored to announce that Ms. Iris Weinshall will be the ship sponsor of the future USS Long Island,” said Secretary Del Toro. “Her dedication to public service and significant contributions to New York make her an exemplary choice. We are grateful for her commitment to the future USS Long Island.”

Ms. Weinshall expressed her gratitude, stating, “Being part of a tradition that honors those who protect our shores is profoundly meaningful. As a lifelong New Yorker, it is a privilege to represent Long Island.” She acknowledged the importance of caring for others, drawing parallels to her roles as a mother and grandmother.

The USS Long Island name, announced during New York Fleet Week 2023 on the deck of USS Wasp (CV-7), honors Long Island, a region with a rich naval history. “New York has been a Navy town since our Nation’s founding. Over 200,000 veterans reside in the five boroughs, with a significant number on Long Island,” Secretary Del Toro highlighted.

The first USS Long Island, a steam trawler, served in various capacities from 1917 to 1919. The second, an escort carrier (CVE 1), was pivotal in World War II, supporting operations in the Pacific and training pilots post-war.

Throughout the day at the academy, Secretary Del Toro participated in several engagements, including a wreath-laying ceremony and meetings with leadership. Vice Adm. Joanna M. Nunan, Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, welcomed the ceremony as a symbol of the strong relationship between the Navy and Kings Point since World War II.

Attack submarines like the future USS Long Island are multifaceted, designed to engage enemy submarines and surface ships, conduct ISR missions, support battle group operations, and carry out mine warfare. More information on attack submarines can be found here.