 Welcome to All Hands Update, I'm Petty Officer Ian Cotter. This year the Navy is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the commissioning of the First Ballistic Missile Submarine or SSBN. USS George Washington was commissioned on December 30, 1959 and began its career by test launching two missiles at the Atlantic Missile Test Range. George Washington was the Navy's first ballistic missile submarine and paved the way for future developments of the submarine community. Today's SSBNs continue to serve as stealthy launch platforms for intercontinental missiles and add to the Navy's sea power. Currently there are 18 ballistic missile submarines serving in the Navy and all of them are Ohio class. For more information about ballistic missile submarines visit navy.mil.