2024 Crew Reunion Plans (282 & 682 Crews)

The 2024 Crew Reunion is complete. As usual, we had a great time.

Your 2024 Reunion committee organized the hotel and activities.

The reunion was located at the San Antonio Holiday Inn Riverwalk.

Martin McDonough was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His father worked in construction, so he lived in 11 different places, attending four different high schools before being accepted to the Naval Academy. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. Three days later, he married Catherine, and soon after, they relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia, where he completed a Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering within a year.

Ensign McDonough began Nuclear Power School in California in 1976, followed by training in Idaho and Submarine School in Connecticut. By September 1977, he reported to the USS Cavalla (SSN-684) in Groton, where he served for four years, holding the role of Weapons Officer for three. During this time, he completed deployments to the Mediterranean, a non-refueling overhaul in Bremerton, and moved the ship’s homeport to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His work contributed to a successful Western Pacific deployment, earning the ship a Navy Unit Commendation.

In 1981, after finishing a six-month deployment on the Cavalla, Lieutenant McDonough became Engineer Officer aboard the USS Tunny (SSN-682), overseeing multiple deployments in the Western Pacific.

Lieutenant Commander McDonough’s next tour of duty was as Submarine Liaison Officer on the staff of Commander Carrier Group Six out of Mayport, Florida. During this tour from September 1984 until November of 1986 he deployed for seven months to the Mediterranean in USS Nimitz (CVN-68) followed by a five month deployment in USS Forrestal (CV-59). During the Nimitz deployment the Battle Group was dealing with the Egypt Air hijacking crisis.

Lieutenant Commander McDonough reported to USS Haddock (SSN-621), home ported out of San Diego, California as Executive Officer in February of 1987. Haddock had a very successful Western Pacific deployment in 1988 earning the Submarine Squadron Three Battle Efficiency “E” that year.

After serving for one year as a Deputy at Submarine Development Squadron One and completing Prospective Commanding Officer Training Commander McDonough reported to USS Tunny (SSN-682) in Pearl Harbor in October of 1990. During this tour he emphasized quality training and qualifications to improve duty section rotation, improving the quality of life for the crew. The crew excelled in all respects competing two successful Western Pacific deployments earning the 1992 Submarine Squadron One Battle “E”, Engineering “E”, Tactical “T”, and Damage Control “DC”. The crew also achieved a grade of “Excellent” on an Operational Reactor Safeguards Exam.

Commander McDonough’s last tour of duty before retiring in July of 1995 was as a Senior Member of the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. This tour exposed him to all nuclear powered ships and submarines in the fleet.

Following his military service, Mr. McDonough transitioned to the electrical power industry, where he worked until his retirement in 2015. He now resides in Northwestern Illinois, enjoying time with his wife and grandchildren.