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

Maxwell House: A Family Legacy of Naval Service Continues
March 28, 2025 — It was January in Kitsap County, Washington – a cold day, in a cold region, during the coldest month – when a young Naval Academy applicant got the call he had been waiting for since he started the process many months prior.Their swim team had just finished up another grueling practice in the pool and was transitioning to the “dry land” phase of... MORE

Henry Maxwell poses for a photo with family heirloom dog tags, March 22, 2025. Maxwell was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy and will become a midshipman in June joining the class of 2029. (U.S. Navy photo taken by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Riley)

USS Vermont Returns Home from First Western Pacific Deployment
March 16, 2025 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam March 16, following a seven-month deployment, the submarine's first deployment to the Western Pacific. 104 Sailors assigned to Vermont earned their first Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, since the... MORE

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 16, 2025 – The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii after a scheduled deployment, March 16, 2025.

Navy Undersea Warfare Units Start Exercise Black Widow 2025
March 5, 2025 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – U.S. Navy submarines, ships and aircraft commenced exercise Black Widow 2025 in the Hawaii Operating Area, March 4, 2025. Black Widow is the premier tactical development exercise for U.S. Navy undersea warfare (USW) forces, integrating submarines, surface ships, and aircraft into a team tasked to track and... MORE

he Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Montana (SSN 794) gets underway from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in preparation for exercise Black Widow 2025, March 3, 2025.

USS Montana Arrives to New Homeport of Pearl Harbor
December 23, 2024 — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Montana (SSN 794) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam following a change of homeport from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, December 23, 2024.Montana’s arrival marks the ninth Virginia-class fast-attack submarine home ported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and the submarine will be assigned to... MORE

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Montana (SSN 794) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during its change of homeport, December 23, 2024.

Once is Good, Twice is Nice: Kentucky Chiefs Re-pinned in Front of Friends and Family
December 12, 2024 — For many Sailors, earning the right to wear the gold-fouled anchor that symbolizes a chief petty officer (CPO) fulfills a years-long endeavor that began in boot camp. Perhaps they enlisted with the intent to make the Navy a career and eventually join the ranks of enlisted leaders that comprise the backbone of our sea-faring service. Or perhaps they... MORE

Family members pin Chief Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) Scott Whispell, assigned to the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) gold crew, during a pinning ceremony, Dec. 12, 2024. Kentucky’s gold crew was on patrol during the September pinning and held an additional ceremony for friends and families to attend. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Riley)

USS Minnesota Holds Change of Command
December 5, 2024 — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) conducted a change of command ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5, aboard Naval Base Guam. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Isaac Pelt turned over command of Minnesota to Cmdr. Jeffrey Cornielle.Capt. Aaron Peterson, commander, Submarine Squadron 1, served as guest speaker, while Capt. Neil... MORE

241205-N-VC599-1076 U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM (Dec. 5, 2024) – Cmdr. Isaac Pelt is piped ashore following a change of command ceremony for Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) held onboard U.S. Naval Base Guam, Dec. 5. Assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam, Minnesota is one of five fast-attack submarines forward deployed in the Pacific. Regarded as apex predators of the sea, Guam's fast-attack submarines serve at the tip of the spear, helping to reaffirm the submarine forces' forward-deployed presence in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Justin Wolpert)

Kentucky Crews Win Omaha Trophy
December 2, 2024 — NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BANGOR -- U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and the USSTRATCOM Consultation Committee (SCC) awarded the Omaha Trophy to the blue and gold crews of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) during a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Silverdale, Washington, Dec. 2, 2024.The Omaha Trophy was created... MORE

Vice Adm. Richard Correll, deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), center, poses for a photo with the crews of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) during the Omaha Trophy presentation ceremony, Dec. 2, 2024.

First Forward-Deployed Virginia-Class Submarine Arrives in Guam
November 26, 2024 — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) arrived to its new homeport of Naval Base Guam, Nov. 26, as part of the U.S. Navy’s strategic laydown plan for naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region.Minnesota arrives as the first Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to be forward deployed to Guam.“The entire crew is thrilled to be... MORE

USS Minnesota (SSN 783) arrives at U.S. Naval Base Guam.

Pacific Fleet Submarine Force Commander Joins Submarine Institute of Australia Conference Panel
November 8, 2024 — Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, spoke as part of a trilateral submarine officer panel during the 12th Submarine Institute of Australia (SIA) Biennial Conference 2024, in Canberra, Australia, Nov. 6. Following his remarks about the capabilities of nuclear powered fast-attack submarines, Seif joined Royal Navy... MORE

Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, attends the 12th Submarine Institute of Australia Biennial Conference 2024.

SUBGRU-9 holds Assumption of Command Ceremony
November 6, 2024 — Commander, Submarine Group (SUBGRU) 9 held an assumption of command ceremony at the Naval Base Kitsap Chapel in Silverdale, Washington, Nov. 6, 2024.During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Thomas Wall assumed command of SUBRGU-9 from Rear Adm. Nicholas Tilbrook with Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, commander, Naval Submarine Forces; commander, Submarine Force,... MORE

NAVAL BASE KITSAP – BANGOR, Wash. (Nov. 6, 2024) Rear Adm. Thomas Wall, right, salutes Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, commander, Naval Submarine Forces, while assuming duties and responsibilities as commander, Submarine Group (SUBGRU) 9 in a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor, Nov. 6, 2024. SUBGRU-9 exercises administrative 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 powered submarines undergoing conversion or overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gwendelyn L. Ohrazda)