and the head of the United States Navy, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert in a historic underwater meeting between the leaders of both navies. Ship's crest The crest of New Mexico was designed by Emilee Sena, a senior at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her winning design was chosen by the submarine's crew out of 180 submissions from schools throughout the state. The design incorporates an image of a New Mexico sunset, which casts the Sandia Mountains in the pink shade for which they are named. The red in the upper right corner represents the red in the U.S. flag, which symbolizes valor and the blood that has been sacrificed in battle. The blue in the lower left corner represents the blue of the American flag, symbolizing justice, vigilance, and perseverance. The Zia symbol represents the state flag, as well as the prominence of the sun in New Mexico; the emblem is unique in reflecting the influence of Native American people in New Mexico, as the design is commonly found in indigenous art, such as blankets and pots. The dolphins on the sides are symbols for naval submarines; they shine with a white color to represent the white of the U.S. flag, which in turn symbolizes purity and innocence. The submarine in the center represents a Virginia-class submarine, with bow wave signifying motion. Naval officers are depicted above the vessel holding a flag. The bird along the hull is a roadrunner (Geococcyx), the state bird of New Mexico, known as a fast, agile, and fearless hunter. The gold in the border symbolizes the naval qualities of courage, prosperity, wisdom, and confidence. The nuclear symbol in the bottom left corner has two meanings: It represents the nuclear-powered nature of the Virginia-class submarines and the fact many advancements in nuclear science have taken place in New Mexico at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). In honor of those who serve aboard the New Mexico, the football players of New Mexico State University wore the crest on the back of their helmets for the 2010 football season. References This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register and various press releases. External links USS New Mexico (SSN-779) website – New Mexico Council, Navy League of the United States. USS New Mexico (SSN 779) page – Northrop Grumman Virginia-class submarines Nuclear submarines of the United States