US navy selects Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg to christen new submarine

Facebook's chief operating officer is an unconventional choice for a ship sponsor, who are usually wives of senior officers or politicians with navy ties

The US navy has made an unconventional choice to sponsor its newest submarine: Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, who is known for advocating women's empowerment through her Lean In book and campaign.

Sponsors, who christen the ship, are always women but historically they were often the wives of senior officers or politicians with close ties to the navy. According to navy lore, sponsors are said to imbue a ship with their personalities.