LT John Lindstedt, USNR (Ret)
“US Submarine Force Historian”
A Wisconsin native born in Milwaukee, John “Qualified in Submarines” in 1974 on USS Kamehameha (SSBN 642) Blue Crew following 2 years of service in the Merchant Marine as a marine engineer. As a nuclear submarine officer, he made three deterrent patrols in the Mediterranean Sea during the Cold War. He holds a Bachelors degree in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (1969) and did his graduate work in electro-analytical chemistry at Arizona State University. He is an Honorary Plank Owner of the USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) having served on the Commissioning Committee and was inducted into the Holland Club in 2024.
After his naval service, John joined Advance Plating Technologies, a surface finishing engineering firm of which he is the Chief Executive Officer. The company provides surface coating engineering and design expertise in gold, silver nickel, tin, and lead deposits to a large array of U.S. companies. He is especially proud of the components that his company provides to the US military for the U.S. Submarine Force (Virginia and Columbia classes), Naval Aviation and the sighting devices plus the ammunition used in all the branches of our military.
For over 55 years, John has been married to his lovely bride, Cindy. They have three children with their two sons’ veterans of the Air Force (O3) and Navy (E-6). He enjoys hunting, hiking, and studying history. For over the past 11 years, John has provided lectures on the U.S. Submarine Force endorsing its achievements and contributions to national defense including a specialty on the “Father of the Nuclear Navy”, the late ADM H. G. Rickover, USN (Ret).