Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet > Media

USS Illinois (SSN 786) Holds Change of Command Ceremony
January 16, 2026 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Jan. 16, 2026) - Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) conducted a change of command ceremony at the USS Parche Park and Submarine Memorial on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Jan. 16. Cmdr. Jeffrey Vandenengel relieved Cmdr. Johannes Smith as commanding officer of Illinois.Smith took... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Jan. 16, 2026) - Cmdr. Jeffrey Vandenengel, commanding officer of Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786), salutes the sideboys as he departs the change of command ceremony for Illinois at the USS Parche Park and Submarine Memorial on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 16, 2026. Illinois is assigned to Submarine Squadron 1 and is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations forces support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Russell)

USS Hawaii (SSN 776) Returns Home from Deployment
December 8, 2025 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Dec.8, 2025) - Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam following a scheduled deployment, Dec. 8, 2025. During the deployment, Hawaii and its crew performed a wide range of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.“Every day, this crew... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Dec 8, 2025) - Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Vince Morales, assigned to Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776), meets his family pierside as Hawaii returns to its homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam following a scheduled deployment, Dec. 8, 2025. Hawaii is assigned to Submarine Squadron 1 and is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations forces support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Russell)

USS Missouri Holds Change of Command Ceremony
November 19, 2025 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Nov. 19, 2025) - Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Nov. 19. Cmdr. Michael Humara, from Torrance, California, relieved Cmdr. Gieorag Andrews, from Gardnerville, Nevada, as commanding officer of the Missouri... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Nov. 19, 2025) - Cmdr. Michael Humara, commanding officer of Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780), departs the change of command ceremony for Missouri at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Nov. 19, 2025. Missouri is assigned to Submarine Squadron 7 and is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations forces support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Russell)

USS Columbia Holds Change of Command Ceremony
November 18, 2025 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Nov. 18, 2025) – Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Nov. 18. Cmdr. Bill Murphy, from Bethel, Maine, relieved Cmdr. Brad Foster, from Memphis, Tennessee, as Columbia’s commanding officer, during the ceremony... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Nov. 18, 2025) - Cmdr. Bill Murphy, commanding officer of Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771), departs the change of command ceremony for Columbia at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Nov. 18, 2025. Columbia is assigned to Submarine Squadron 7 and is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations forces support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Russell)

USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) Returns Home from Deployment
September 29, 2025 — NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA – Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Point Loma following a six-month deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific command area of responsibility, Sept. 29, 2025.“The ‘Iron Saint’ deployed with the best young Americans our nation has to offer,” said Cmdr. Eric Knepper,... MORE

(Sept. 29, 2025) Cmdr. Eric Knepper, commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763), left and Cmdr. Sean Heenan, executive officer of Santa Fe, pose for a photo after returning to Naval Base Point Loma following a six-month deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility, Sept. 29, 2025. Santa Fe is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, home to four Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines, which are capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rashan Jefferson)

Ring The Bell: How the ‘Keystone of Defense’ Built A Winning Culture
September 23, 2025 — Silverdale, Wash. (Sept. 23, 2025) – Embarking a ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN) is akin to entering a universe unto itself. The black metal hull belies the unique culture and nuanced ecosystem contained within its walls. Descending the ladder is disorienting—like Alice following the rabbit hole—one is thrust into a novel environment with walls... MORE

241213-N-GD259-1038 Bremerton, Wash. (Dec. 13, 2024) – Crewmembers assigned to the ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) pose for a photo while the ship is in dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Pennsylvania won the 2024 Retention Excellence Award and Best-In-Class distinction for Pacific Fleet SSBNs. Commander, Submarine Group (SUBGRU) 9 exercises administrative and operational control authority for assigned submarine commands and units in the Pacific Northwest providing oversight for shipboard training, personnel, supply and material readiness of SSBNs and their crews. SUBGRU-9 is also responsible for nuclear submarines undergoing conversion or overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. SUBGRU-9’s subordinate commands include Submarine Readiness Squadron 31, Submarine Squadrons 17 and 19, eight SSBNs, two SSGNs, and four SSNs homeported in the Pacific Northwest. (U.S. Navy Photo by Wendy Hallmark)

USS Mississippi Holds Change of Command Ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
September 18, 2025 — Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Sep. 18, 2025. Cmdr. Alex Rinaldi relieved Cmdr. Jeff Bernhardt as Mississippi’s commanding officer.Bernhardt addressed the crew of Mississippi and thanked them for their accomplishments during his tenure as... MORE

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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Sep. 18, 2025) - Cmdr. Alex Rinaldi, incoming commanding officer of Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782), right, salutes Cmdr. Jeffrey Bernhardt, outgoing commanding officer of Mississippi, left, while Capt. Chris Hedrick, commander, Submarine Squadron 1, center, observes during the Mississippi’s change of command ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sep. 18, 2025. Mississippi is assigned to Submarine Squadron 1 and is capable of supporting various missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations forces support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Russell)

USS Springfield Returns to Guam Following Indo-Pacific Deployment
August 31, 2025 — NAVAL BASE GUAM (August 31, 2025) — The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) returned to its homeport, August 31, after completing a routine deployment in the Indo-Pacific, reaffirming its vital role in maintaining security and stability in the region.“USS Springfield showcases the strength and professionalism of our... MORE

NAVAL BASE GUAM (August 31, 2025) Cmdr. Greg Storer, commanding officer, USS Springfield (SSN 761), left, and Lt. Cmdr. Juan Diaz, center, man the conning tower of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, August 31, 2025. Springfield returns to Guam after completing a routine deployment in the Indo-Pacific. Assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15, based at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam, Springfield is one of five forward-deployed fast-attack submarines. Renowned for their unparalleled speed, endurance, stealth, and mobility, fast-attack submarines are the backbone of the Navy’s submarine force. Regarded as apex predators of the sea, Guam’s fast-attack submarines serve at the tip of the spear, helping to reaffirm the submarine force's forward-deployed presence in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. James Caliva)

Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 holds Change of Command
August 29, 2025 — SAN DIEGO – Capt. Phillip Sylvia Jr. relieved Capt. Will Wiley as Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 11 in a change of command ceremony held aboard the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) at Naval Base Point Loma, Aug. 29.Rear Adm. Lincoln Reifsteck, Commander, Submarine Group (CSG) Seven, and Rear Adm. Christopher... MORE

Commander, Undersea Surveillance Holds Change of Command Ceremony
August 28, 2025 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (Aug. 28, 2025) - Commander, Undersea Surveillance (CUS) held a change of command ceremony at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit in Virginia Beach, Virginia, August 28, 2025. During the ceremony, Capt. Steven Lawrence, from Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, relieved Capt. Stephany Moore, from Caledonia, New York... MORE

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (Aug. 28, 2025) – Sailors assigned to the commander, Undersea Surveillance (CUS) color guard present colors during a change of command ceremony for CUS held at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Aug. 28, 2025. During the ceremony, Capt. Steven Lawrence, from Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, relieved Capt. Stephany Moore, from Caledonia, New York as commander of CUS. CUS provides global maritime acoustic surveillance and timely, accurate anti-submarine warfare (ASW) reporting using persistent, long-range, fixed and mobile systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Yeoman 1st Class Nikolas Cantu)