(COLUMBIA, MO) ~ Columbia, Missouri - The USS Columbia Submarine's commanding officer, Cmder. Brad Foster, along with three crewmembers, will be visiting the City of Columbia from April 15th to April 17th. The city holds a special significance for the submarine as it is one of its Namesake Cities.

The visit will include various events and media opportunities for the crewmembers. On Monday, April 15th, at 6:30 p.m., Cmder. Foster will be available for questions from the press at City Hall Lobby. This will be followed by an introduction of Cmder. Foster and his crew at the City Council Meeting at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 17th, Cmder. Foster will be available for questions at Flat Branch Pub & Brewing at 4:15 p.m. This will be followed by a reception with Mayor Buffaloe at 4:30 p.m., where he will also make remarks and participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony with Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. The Flat Branch Café, named after the pub and brewing company, is where the crew spends their time dining, studying and socializing.

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Apart from these events, Cmder. Foster and his crew will also be meeting with local officials to discuss the ongoing Namesake City relationship that began in 1994 when the submarine was christened and commissioned in 1995.

Cmder. Foster is accompanied by Lt. (j.g.) Zachary Rosen, who was named junior officer of the year, Chief Petty Officer Matt Choiniere who hails from Missouri himself, and Petty Officer First Class Billy Kilmer who was named junior sailor of the year.

Cmder. Foster holds a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering and radiological health engineering from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in operations research from Naval Postgraduate School.

The USS Columbia is a Los Angeles Class fast attack submarine that is based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and has a crew of approximately 125 sailors. The Namesake City relationship with Columbia, Missouri began in 1994 when former Mayor Mary Anne McCollum was approached to have the city be one of three namesake cities, along with Columbia, Illinois and Columbia, South Carolina.

The submarine's sponsor is former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Namesake City relationship is coordinated by the Mayor's Task Force on the USS Columbia and Friends of the USS Columbia Submarine SSN-771, chaired by Anne Moore.

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