Thresher Base
United States Submarine Veterans
Kevin Galeaz, FTB2(SS)
Chief of the Boat (COB), Webmaster & Past Commander
Chairman, Annual USS Thresher Memorial Services Planning Committee
Email: thresherbase.pastcdr@gmail.com
Phone: 603.785.6464
Kevin 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). He spent the summer of 1978 on patrol with the USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659) Blue Crew earning his Dolphins and gaining at-sea experience. 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 his second patrol.
Selected for service aboard the first Trident Submarine, USS OHIO (SSBN 726), he was assigned to the Pre-commissioning Crew in September, 1979. He completed the first Trident Ballistic Missile 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. Kevin 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 earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 1986. He is currently retired having worked as a DOD Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) architect, designer, validator and team lead for Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and secure applications including Thermal Imaging, Electronic Warfare, Beamforming Radar, Secure Communications and Secure Processing. His ASIC's and FPGA's are currently installed on multiple DOD platforms in space, land and sea. During his career, Kevin worked for Sanders Associates, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, MIT Lincoln Laboratory and 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.
He currently serves USSVI Thresher Base as the Annual USS Thresher Memorial Service Planning Committee Chairman, Chief of the Boat (COB) and Webmaster. Since joining Thresher Base in 1999, Kevin previously served as the Newsletter Editor, Photographer, Secretary, Junior Vice Commander, Vice Commander and Commander from 2012-2019.
Kevin is the Founder of, and serves as the President & Webmaster for the USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Foundation that secured a National Commemorative Monument to USS Thresher in our Nation's hallowed National Military Cemetery.
For his work in perpetuating the memories of the men lost aboard USS Thresher, Kevin has been awarded the USSVI National Joe Negri Award, the Robert Link National Commanders Award & three Meritorious Awards. In 2022, he was awarded a second USSVI Robert Link National Commanders Award for his continued volunteer work which has contributed to the success of USSVI National.
Kevin is the Founder of, and serves as the President & Webmaster for the NH Council Navy League of the United States. He is also a lifetime member of the Naval Submarine League (NSL) and currently serves as the Nautilus Chapter Liasison to Submarine Squadron Two at PNS.
Kevin is a former advisor to the Portsmouth Submarine Museum Association Board of Directors. He continues to support the USS Albacore Museum with a Hands On Rig for Dive program for youth as well as fundraising in support of their building expansion project.
Kevin also serves as member of the Hooksett, NH Lions Club.
Kevin and his wife Robin reside in Hooksett, NH.
