The future U.S.S. North Dakota's senior enlisted sailor will be paying a visit to the submarine's namesake state Friday, according to the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce.
Master Chief Timothy A. Preabt, a Minot native and graduate of Mandan High School, will be bringing greater awareness of the Virginia-class submarine to the state. He said he'd planned on retiring after serving as chief of boat on the U.S.S. Key West, a Los Angeles-class submarine, but his wife, another North Dakota native, encouraged him to serve as chief of boat on the U.S.S. North Dakota.
The submarine has not yet been commissioned. It's expected to serve with the Navy's Submarine Squadron 15 in Guam.
