North Carolina Submarine Foundation

Supporting Submariners & Their Families | Advancing Workforce Innovation

North Carolina is honored by three namesake Navy nuclear-powered submarines: USS Asheville (SSN 758), based in Guam; and USS Charlotte (SSN 766) and USS North Carolina (SSN 777), both homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Our purpose is to develop an interactive STEM Education & Workforce Innovation Center based on the design and operation of a modern, 100% American-produced U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine. Among the world’s most sophisticated machines, one could even think of them as underwater spaceships!

How We Support Our Submarine Families

SSN families experience long stretches without their loved ones and without everyday contact: calls, text, emails. Often far away from the mainland of the US, they hold everything together while managing parenting, medical emergencies, home repairs and financial responsibilities. While their sacrifice may be silent, their example never goes unappreciated.

Working alongside the Family Readiness Groups (FRGs), we collaborate with community partners and local businesses to support them in often small—yet hopefully meaningful—ways:

Holiday parties, family-centered events, and connections to requested community resources all serve as opportunities to boost morale and show our support from afar.
We assist with planning for, providing support during, and celebrating the completion of underway periods that can last up to six months.
Emergency Assistance – Though rarely needed, when it is, we muster every resource we have to help.

Chris Perrien with Family Readiness Group (FRG) members at a U.S. naval base in Hawaii, standing outdoors under blue umbrella

Group of five women standing in front of a “Merry Christmas” banner during a holiday event supporting Navy submarine families

Three children sit along the shoreline in Pearl Harbor, waving toward a distant U.S. Navy submarine returning to port.

How We Support Sailors

U.S. Navy submariner in uniform smiling and hugging a young girl during a homecoming or family day event on base.

Crew of USS Charlotte (SSN 766) gathered on the surfaced submarine during deployment in open ocean.

Group of U.S. Navy submariners in dress whites gathered at a submarine ball, possibly in Guam or San Diego, representing USS

Submarine service is demanding and often requires prolonged periods at sea—underwater and beyond routine communication. The average submariner is just 25 years old and is responsible for operating one of the most advanced machines in the world.

We ensure they have the support they need—on and off duty—through:

Recognition & Morale – Homecomings, send-offs, and appreciation events that remind them their service matters.
Care Packages & Personal Connections – Snacks, letters, and small reminders of home that help break through the isolation.
Career & Skill Development – Workforce training, industry partnerships, and transition support for life beyond the Navy.
Honoring Their Legacy – Through the NCSF, we preserve their history and educate the public on their role in our nation's security.

A Vision for the Future

Our STEM Education and Workforce Innovation Center (SEWIC) in Wilmington, NC, will preserve the proud history of North Carolina's three namesake submarines as they retire from active service, as well as celebrate the service of their crews and families. Our Navy projects a need over the next 10 years for 250,000 skilled workers to both construct and maintain the submarines and surface ships already funded.

The SEWIC will engage, in an interactive and individually tailored manner, a wide range of visitors: tourists; gamers; young adults aspiring to hands-on careers in technology; and North Carolina STEM educators seeking annual certification. A visitor will be immersed in the experiences of operating, living, and sailing in the depths of the ocean aboard a nuclear-powered U.S. Navy submarine.

The intended reaction after such a visit is, "Wow! This is amazing. And I can be part of this!"

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