Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Ville Platte Native Serves Aboard USS South Dakota, America’s Newest Nuclear Powered Submarine

GROTON, Conn. – A graduate from Ville Platte High School in Louisiana, Chief Electronics Technician (Navigation) David Fontenot is currently serving aboard the 17th and newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine in the Navy, USS South Dakota (SSN 790), which is scheduled to be commissioned February 2.

As a navigator, it is Fontenot’s job to plan the submarine’s route for every deployment, “Wherever the ship needs to go, I plan the voyage. I also maintain all the ship’s navigation equipment.”

Fontenot loves the camaraderie of the crew while he completes his daily tasks.

“Every day is something new. Every mission is complex; it motivates everyone to pull together to get the job done [which is] my favorite part about my job: the camaraderie,” he said.

Fontenot joined the military to travel the world and gain technical experience for future job prospects, as well as to earn educational opportunities.

His proudest moment thus far in his Naval career was making the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, a rank afforded more responsibility than any other enlisted rank in the world.

MCPON Russell Smith said in his CPO Charge Letter to FY19 Chief selectees, every chief is “expected to work longer hours, solve far more difficult problems and challenges, do more to empower junior Sailors, and provide better and more seasoned advice to Officers.”

Fontenot is very proud of the junior Sailors that look to him for guidance, “My proudest accomplishment at my command was training the ship’s navigation team to navigate the ship for the first time ever on sea trials.”

Outside of work, he loves to run, camp and travel. What he looks forward to most is continuing his dedicated service in the U.S. Navy through retirement.

The South Dakota is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operation forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare. It’s 377 feet long and 34 feet wide and weighs nearly 7,800 tons, powered by a nuclear reactor to push the boat through the water at speeds of more than 25 knots while submerged.

As the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, the submarine can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities.