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How nuclear submarines actually work, according to a former commander

How nuclear submarines actually work, according to a former commander

L. David Marquet is a former US Navy Captain and author who served in the submarine force for nearly three decades. Marquet graduated from the US Naval Academy at the top of his class in 1981, during the height of the Cold War, and served on multiple submarines. He captained the USS Santa Fe from 1999 to 2001, transforming it from one of the one of worst-performing in the US fleet to the highest ranked.
Marquet breaks down the logistics of operating and living on these massive weapons of war, as well as the torpedoes and missiles that make up the US arsenal amid increased geopolitical tensions with China and Russia.
Following his time in the Navy, in 2013, Marquet published the best-selling book "Turn the Ship Around," detailing his time on the Santa Fe. Since then, he's worked as a leadership expert, speaking at companies such as Google. He published an additional book, "Leadership is Language," in 2020, and has an upcoming book, "Distancing," releasing in August 2025.
Visit his author page here.
Additional satellite imagery supplied by Maxar Technologies and the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, part of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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