Media Center

Darleen Greenert

Ship's Sponsor

Mrs. Darleen Greenert was born in Flint, Michigan to parents William and Alice Hodges. Darleen graduated from the University of Michigan in 1975 with a bachelor of arts in Education, and taught elementary school prior to joining the United States Navy.

Mrs. Greenert served the Navy for 36 years as a naval officer, a volunteer and a devoted military spouse. She was commissioned an Ensign in 1979 and reported to her first duty station in Honolulu, Hawaii. Here, Darleen met her husband Jonathan Greenert, a U.S. Naval Submariner, and they were married in 1981.

Mrs. Greenert contributed to the welfare of Navy and military families through her continued volunteer service. She served as a senior advisor for numerous naval and military spouse organizations, including the Navy Marine Corps Ball Committee, where along with dedicated spouses, she raised funds for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. As spouse of the Chief of Naval Operations, Darleen hosted many spouses of the Chiefs of the Navy from around the world, established communications and trusted bonds, and shared best practices to help all military families.

Most rewarding, Jon and Darleen raised three wonderful adult children – Jonathan, Brian and Sarah –through numerous military tours, both throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Mrs. Greenert is honored for this opportunity and looking forward to supporting the men, women, and families who serve the United States Navy today in her new role as Sponsor of the USS Hyman G. Rickover. She believes no submariner is as successful without the love and support from the dedicated families riding along with them.

Kevin Graney

President, General Dynamics Electric Boat

Kevin Graney became president of General Dynamics Electric Boat in October 2019.

Graney began his shipbuilding career with General Dynamics Electric Boat in 1995, as a senior engineer, working on the high-speed turbine generator set for the Virginia-class submarine. He was then assigned as a fluid systems supervisor, working with Newport News Shipbuilding to design the reactor plant fluid systems of the next-generation aircraft carrier – the CVN 78 program. He later managed a team of Electric Boat designers and engineers in the development of fluid systems for the British Astute-class submarine program. After working on the British submarine program, he became the program manager of capital projects and metrics in the Virginia-class submarine program office.

He joined NASSCO in January 2006 as director of quality assurance and was promoted to vice president of engineering in July 2007. In 2010, Graney assumed the post of vice president of Programs and in January 2013 was promoted to vice president of Operations. In November 2013, Graney was named vice president and general manager, a position he held until assuming the role of president.

Graney was born in Cheektowaga, New York, in January 1964. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering and nuclear science from State University of New York Maritime College in 1986. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a naval officer and served aboard submarines and as an instructor at Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa in New York.

Graney is married to Cheryl Kidd Graney from Colchester, Connecticut. Together, they have a daughter, Katherine, a recent graduate of the University of California, Davis.

Admiral James Caldwell

Keynote Speaker

Admiral James Caldwell received his commission graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Caldwell commanded USS Jacksonville (SSN-699) homeported in Norfolk, Virginia; Submarine Development Squadron (DEVRON) 12 in New London, Connecticut; Submarine Group 9 in Bangor, Washington; and the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Hawaii. His sea tours include service in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. His Operational assignments include duty as a division officer on USS Boston (SSN-703), engineering officer on USS Alabama (SSBN-731) (GOLD), and executive officer on USS Buffalo (SSN-715).

Ashore, Caldwell served on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board and later as Undersea Warfare (USW) Requirements officer on the staff of Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He also served as senior member of the Naval Submarine Force’s Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team; on the Joint Staff as deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs for Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia and Africa; and deputy commander for U.S. Strategic Command’s Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike in Omaha, Nebraska and as Naval Inspector General, Washington Navy Yard, D. C. His most recent tour was on the (Office of Naval Operations) OPNAV Staff as the Director, Navy Staff. He assumed his duties as the Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in August 2015.

Caldwell’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Naval Submarine League’s Charles A. Lockwood Award for Submarine Professional Excellence.

CDR Matthew H. Beach

Prospective Commanding Officer, PCU Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795)

Commander Matt Beach, from Springfield, Ohio, graduated from Wright State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL.

At sea, Commander Beach served as a division officer onboard USS Philadelphia (SSN- 690) in Groton, CT from 2005 to 2009, during which he completed two CENTCOM deployments and the crew was awarded the 2007 Battle Efficiency “E” from Submarine Squadron TWO. He served as Engineer Officer onboard USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723) forward deployed in Guam from 2011 to 2014, where he completed multiple operations throughout the Western Pacific with the ship earning the Engineering “E” from Submarine Squadron 15. He served as Executive Officer on USS Hawaii (SSN-776) from 2016 to 2018 where the ship conducted multiple Third Fleet operations.

Ashore, Commander Beach served as Flag Aide to Commander, Submarine Group TWO, Chief Engineer for Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah Afghanistan, Engineer Officer on the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron ELEVEN, and as the Nuclear Officer Program Manager (OPNAV N133C) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Personnel.

His personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards). He is proud to have served with crews recognized with various unit and campaign awards.

He is married to Brenna Beach of Canton, OH and has one child, Abigayle.

CDR Thomas J. (T.J.) Niebel

Commanding Officer, PCU Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795)

Commander Niebel, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in May 2000 through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps at Carnegie Mellon University where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. He also holds a Master’s in Engineering Management from Duke University.

Following completion of the nuclear power training pipeline in 2001, he reported to USS La Jolla (SSN-701) where he served in various division officer billets. During his tour the ship completed two Western Pacific deployments. In November 2004, he reported to Duke University as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science.

Commander Niebel then reported to USS Tucson (SSN-770) in June 2007 to serve as Engineer Officer, completing a Depot Modernization Period, change of homeport to Pearl Harbor and a Western Pacific deployment. In November 2010, he reported to Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet, to serve as the Force Radiological Controls Officer. During this period, he deployed to Japan to provide radiological control support during OPERATION TOMADACHI following the tsunami in March of 2011.

In June 2013, he reported to USS Topeka (SSN-754) as the Executive Officer and served there until October 2015. He completed an Engineered Overhaul and change of homeport to Guam. From November 2015 to September 2017 he served as a Division Director at the National Nuclear Security Administration.

In July 2018, he assumed command of Pre-Commissioning Unit Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795), a Virginia-class fast attack submarine under construction at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT.

Commander Niebel and his wife Laura have two sons, Grant and Chase.

FTCS(SS) Johnathan B. (Brad) Taylor

Chief of the Boat, PCU Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795)

Senior Chief Taylor, a native of Oxford, North Carolina, enlisted in the United States Navy through the delayed entry program in December of 1999 and reported to basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Illinois, in July 2000. Following completion of basic training, he completed Fire Control Technician “A” School.

In September 2001, Senior Chief Taylor reported to his first submarine, USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740). While attached he completed seven strategic deterrent patrols. In 2006, he transferred to his first shore duty, Naval Submarine School New London, where he was selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2008.

Senior Chief Taylor returned to sea duty in November 2009 aboard the USS Dallas (SSN-700), where he completed a major shipyard availability and a CENTCOM deployment. In March 2013, he transferred to the USS Annapolis (SSN-760) where he completed a CENTCOM deployment and conducted a change of homeport to Portsmouth, NH for a shipyard availability. In February 2016, he transferred to COMSUBRON 12, where he served as Fire Control Assistant, was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer and qualified Chief of the Boat.

Senior Chief Taylor graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy in March 2018 and Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat leadership in March 2019 and reported to the PCU Hyman G. Rickover to serve as the Chief of the Boat. He completed his Bachelors of Science Degree in Pre-law and obtained his Master’s in Business Administration from Syracuse University in June 2020. He currently resides in Wallingford, CT with his wife, Kristyn, and their three kids—Pixie (6), Greysen (5), and Paxton (1).

His decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards) and various unit and campaign awards.