In Memorium – Capt. Kenneth Gunderson
Our Founding Chairman
This page is dedicated to our founding chairman, Captain Kenneth Gunderson, USN (retired). Captain Kenneth Jay Gunderson, 67, peacefully passed away at home on February 10th, 2020 in Sandy, UT. Ken was born April 30, 1952 to Kearn and Eleanor Oelke in Burbank, CA. After his father’s passing he was adopted by Lloyd Gunderson and raised by Lloyd and Eleanor in Northridge, CA. Ken graduated from Northridge High School and attended the University of Utah, where he graduated with a B.S. in Political Science in 1974. In college Ken was in the Navy ROTC and was an inaugural member of the University of Utah lacrosse team. After graduation, Ken was commissioned in the United States Navy and became a Naval Aviator. In 1976, Ken married the love of his life, Mary Harris, in the Salt Lake Temple. Ken served for 23 years as an aviator in the United States Navy, flying off aircraft carriers and serving in Operation Desert Storm. From 1993 to 1995 he served as the commanding officer of VR-57. He retired from the Navy as a Captain. Ken also had a successful 30-year career as a pilot for Delta Airlines. He retired from Delta as a Captain after serving as an assistant chief pilot, line check airman, flight instructor, and a member of the Delta Chairman’s Club.
Ken and Mary raised five sons and he was an exemplary husband, father, and grandfather, and is a hero to his family. He and Mary had many adventures together traveling the world and raising their boys. Ken spent countless hours with his sons riding bicycles, shooting guns, and goofing around. Beyond his family, Ken positively influenced hundreds of young men as a lacrosse coach at Jordan High School and Utah Valley University. As a scouter with the Boy Scouts of America he helped dozens of young men achieve their Eagle rank. He loved spending time in his garden, caring for his large vegetable patch, orchard, chickens, and honeybees. Ken’s persona was larger than life itself. He loved playful pranks and had an independent spirit. In all of his roles- as a father, a pilot, a coach, a church leader, or as a neighbor he sought to be a mentor and friend first. All aspects of Ken’s life shared a common thread, that of service to family, country, church and community.
Upcoming Events
With the commissioning of the USS Idaho, the next boat that will be commissioned in Groton, Connecticut will be the USS Utah. USS Utah, SSN 801 is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2027!
Commander Chris Hornung was a special guest of Dale Desmond on KDXU Radio, talking about crew in Southern Utah, the submarine service and updates on the USS Utah. Listen to it here! (The interview starts around 27:00)
Crew from the USS Utah, joined by crew from USS Constitution, Navy Band South East and Admiral Mike Mattis visited Southern Utah as part of the 250th celebration of both the United States and the Navy. The crew cleaned up the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park and were later presented with a flag […]
The USS Utah was christened by co-sponsors Mary Kaye Huntsman and Sharon Lee! Watch the event here! http://gdebchristenings.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkln6feV1Tw This video is from the livestream of the 84th Anniversary Commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mrs. Miller’s comments begin at 22:01, the beginning of the service is at 12:38.
It’s been a busy few days in Groton! Members of the USS Utah Commissioning Committee joined the crew of the USS Utah (SSN-801), submarine veterans and others at a variety of events! Thanks to Kurt Delaney at Outer Lights Brewery, Long Point Hall, Navy SubVets and so many others who welcomed us into their community […]
Christening events for the USS Utah begin Thursday, October 23, in Groton. We look forward to seeing you there! Christening Event Schedule – Final v7
The USS Utah christening will be broadcast live to the Utah State Capitol on Saturday, October 25, 2025 beginning at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held inside the east entrance, in the Presentation Room. If you can’t make it to Groton, join us at the Capitol!
Lt Nathaniel Walko, Senior Chief Dan Miller, MMN1 Wesley Bartholomew, and SSSN Kameron Smith represented the USS Utah during the Day’s of ’47. While here they participated in the Pioneer Day parade, visited the Utah Governor’s office, met with business and community leaders, were introduced at a Salt Lake Bees game and Real Salt Lake […]
Crew members of the USS Utah will celebrate Pioneer Days during their visit in July 2025. They are special guests of the Salt Lake Bees, Real Utah and the Days of 47 rodeo. Watch for them riding the submarine float with Utah’s submarine veterans during the Days of 47 Parade!
Recent News
With the commissioning of the USS Idaho, the next boat that will be commissioned in Groton, Connecticut will be the USS Utah. USS Utah, SSN 801 is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2027!
Commander Chris Hornung was a special guest of Dale Desmond on KDXU Radio, talking about crew in Southern Utah, the submarine service and updates on the USS Utah. Listen to it here! (The interview starts around 27:00)
Crew from the USS Utah, joined by crew from USS Constitution, Navy Band South East and Admiral Mike Mattis visited Southern Utah as part of the 250th celebration of both the United States and the Navy. The crew cleaned up the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park and were later presented with a flag […]
The USS Utah was christened by co-sponsors Mary Kaye Huntsman and Sharon Lee! Watch the event here! http://gdebchristenings.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkln6feV1Tw This video is from the livestream of the 84th Anniversary Commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mrs. Miller’s comments begin at 22:01, the beginning of the service is at 12:38.
The story of the 2 USS Utahs: Honoring the past while celebrating the future The USS Utah battleship was sunk at Pearl Harbor, but last month, a new USS Utah submarine was christened Published: Nov 10, 2025, 12:44 p.m. MST By Caitlin Keith Caitlin is a general assignment reporter with the Politics and the West […]
There were many stories over the last week about the USS-Utah christening. Here’s a partial list, let us know if you aware of others! KSL-TV https://ksltv.com/local-news/newest-submarine-uss-utah/823393/ KSTU-Fox13 https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/uss-utah-to-be-christened-as-newest-submarine-in-naval-fleet#google_vignette (This was also on FOX national news Special Report during, “Beyond the Beltway” segment.) & https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/northern-utah/veterans-reflect-on-what-the-uss-utah-meant-to-them-on-eve-of-christening#google_vignette https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fo4rFgqiC4 KTVX – ABC4Utah https://youtu.be/FA5xB6e7i3A?si=eA8MCfJ5xH0Rvvw0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA5xB6e7i3A https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/uss-utah-submarine-christening-connecticut/ KSL News Radio https://kslnewsradio.com/utah/the-us-navy-prepares-to-christen-the-uss-utah/2255462/ KSL […]
It’s been a busy few days in Groton! Members of the USS Utah Commissioning Committee joined the crew of the USS Utah (SSN-801), submarine veterans and others at a variety of events! Thanks to Kurt Delaney at Outer Lights Brewery, Long Point Hall, Navy SubVets and so many others who welcomed us into their community […]
BY JOE WIRTHLIN KSLTV.com SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Navy’s newest Virginia-class submarine will be christened the USS Utah (SSN-801) in Groton, Connecticut on Oct. 25. Approximately 3,000 people were invited to the christening, according to the USS Utah Commissioning Committee. Read the rest of the story here: https://ksltv.com/local-news/newest-submarine-uss-utah/823393/
Lt Nathaniel Walko, Senior Chief Dan Miller, MMN1 Wesley Bartholomew, and SSSN Kameron Smith represented the USS Utah during the Day’s of ’47. While here they participated in the Pioneer Day parade, visited the Utah Governor’s office, met with business and community leaders, were introduced at a Salt Lake Bees game and Real Salt Lake […]