Thresher Base

United States Submarine Veterans

 

Kevin Galeaz

Master of Ceremonies

Past Commander, USSVI Thresher Base

 

Kevin M. Galeaz, a native of St. Jacob, Illinois, completed Basic Training at NTC San Diego in March 1976 followed by Basic Submarine School in New London and Ballistic Missile Fire Control Technician “A” and “C” Schools in Dam Neck, VA.

 

Kevin reported to the USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630) in May, 1977 which was six months into an overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) . Selected to earn his Dolphins and gain at sea experience prior to the Calhoun finishing overhaul, he spent the summer of 1978 on patrol with the USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659) Blue Crew. Kevin returned to the Calhoun at PNS, completing the overhaul and deploying for home port in Charleston, SC aboard the Blue Crew. He completed a post-overhaul shakedown cruise including a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) and one patrol.

 

Kevin was selected for service aboard the USS OHIO (SSBN 726) Pre-commissioning Crew in September, 1979, and completed the first Trident Fire Control School class held at the Trident Training Facility (TTF) at the Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, Washington. He served aboard the USS OHIO Commissioning and Blue Crews and assisted in launching the first C4 Trident Back fit missile during the DASO held in January 1982. Planning on entering College at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) after his end of service in May of 1982, Kevin transferred to the USS Kamehameha (SSBN 642) which was undergoing overhaul at PNS for the last two months of his enlistment until his Honorable Discharge in May, 1982.

 

Kevin Galeaz earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from UNH in 1986. He currently works as a Principle Firmware Engineer at Mercury Systems. Kevin is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), including the IEEE Computer, Communications, Aerospace, Signal Processing & Ocean Engineering Societies.

 

Kevin is the President of the USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Foundation. Kevin previously served as Commander, USSVI Thresher Base. He currently serves USSVI Thresher Base as the Annual USS Thresher Memorial Service Planning Committee Chairman and Webmaster.

 

For his work in perpetuating the memories of the men lost aboard USS Thresher, Kevin has received the USSVI National Joe Negri Award, the Robert Link Award & the Meritorious Award. He is a lifetime member of the Naval Submarine League and an active member of the Portsmouth, NH Council of the Navy League of the United States. Kevin serves on the Portsmouth Submarine Memorial Association Advisory Committee for the USS Albacore Museum Board of Directors.

 

Kevin and his wife Robin reside in Hooksett, NH.