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

Pacific Submarine Force hosts 2026 Undersea Warfare Commanders’ Conference
April 21, 2026 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (April 21, 2026) - Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC) hosted the 2026 Undersea Warfare Commanders’ Conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, April 8-10, 2026.Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, SUBPAC commander, welcomed allied and partner nation submarine force counterparts and representatives... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (April 8, 2026) — Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, center, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, provides opening remarks to various leaders during the 2026 Undersea Warfare Commanders’ Conference (USWCC) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 8, 2026. First held in 2018, this year’s conference theme was “Shaping the future: Moving forward quickly and collaboratively to assure our combined advantage in the undersea domain.” The USWCC conference included submarine force representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Singapore. The multi-day event included briefings from each partner nation focused on force employment, combat readiness, interoperability, and integration of emerging technology such as unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Omar A. Dominquez)

USS Greeneville (SSN 772) Holds Change of Command Ceremony
February 17, 2026 — NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. – Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Greeneville (SSN 772) conducted a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Base Point Loma, Feb. 17, 2026. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Spencer Ovren relieved Cmdr. Chad Tella as Greeneville’s commanding officer.U.S. Navy Capt. (ret.) Jeremy Pelstring served as the guest... MORE

NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2026) Capt. Phillip Sylvia, left, commander, Submarine Squadron 11, stands with Cmdr. Chad Tella, off-going commanding officer, Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Greeneville (SSN 772), during the change of command ceremony for Greeneville onboard Naval Base Point Loma, Feb. 17, 2026. During the ceremony, Tella was relieved by Cmdr. Spencer Ovren as commanding officer of Greeneville. Greeneville 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 1st Class Tiarra Brown)

USS Greeneville Returns Home Following Deployment
January 30, 2026 — NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA - Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Greeneville (SSN 772) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Point Loma, following a regularly scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region in support of U.S. national security objectives, January 30, 2026.During the deployment, Greeneville steamed over 49,000 nautical miles... MORE

NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2026) - A Sailor assigned to Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Greeneville (SSN 772) is welcomed home after returning to Naval Base Point Loma following a deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility, Jan. 30, 2026. Greeneville 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)

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)