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

A Strategic Shipyard in the Indo-Pacific
May 25, 2021 — PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii-- In the last decade, there has been an increased focus on the region covering the vast area from the west coast of the United States to the west coast of India - known as the Indo-Pacific. This region covers the most area of any of the Department of Defense’s six combatant commands and is a vital driver of the global... MORE

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility successfully undocked Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) July 16, 2020 from Dry Dock #2. The undocking was a major milestone in completing the submarine’s engineered overhaul (EOH) availability.

USS Seawolf Turns Over Command
May 4, 2021 — Crewmembers of the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN-21) conducted a change of command in Keyport, Washington, May 4.Cmdr. Jeffrey Fassbender, from St. Marys, Kansas, officially relieved Cmdr. Jeremy Johnston, from Crescent, Oklahoma, during the event held at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum.“It was my honor and pleasure to command... MORE

From left to right, Capt. Lincoln Reifsteck, commodore of Submarine Development Squadron 5, Cmdr. Jeremy Johnston, commanding officer of the fast-attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21), and Cmdr. Jeffrey Fasssbender, prospective CO for the Seawolf, salute the ensign during the presentation of colors at a change of command ceremony in Keyport, Washington. Crewmembers and guests of USS Seawolf attended the ceremony at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, where Fassbender relieved Johnston, May 4. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ian Zagrocki)

COMSUBPAC Changes Command
April 29, 2021 — Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) conducted a change of command ceremony on the brow of the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777), Apr. 29.Rear Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, from Frostburg, Maryland, relieved Rear Adm. Blake Converse, from Montoursville, Pennsylvania, as the 43rd commander, Submarine... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (April 29, 2021) -- Rear Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, from Frostburg, Maryland, reads his orders during a change of command ceremony for Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, held on the brow of the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777). Jablon relieved Rear Adm. Blake Converse, from Montoursville, Pennsylvania, as the 43rd commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, at the ceremony held on the historic submarine piers on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Michael B. Zingaro/Released)

USS Charlotte Commanding Officer Relieved
April 28, 2021 — Capt. Michael Majewski, commander, Submarine Squadron 7 (CSS-7), relieved Cmdr. Joseph Lautenslager as commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766) on April 27, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to serve as commanding officer.A command investigation revealed leadership and command climate... MORE

COMSUBRON 21 welcomes new commodore
April 8, 2021 — Capt. Tim Poe, a bulwark of the submarine community, former commander of USS Santa Fe (SSN 763), and Commodore of not one, but two forward-deployed submarine squadrons, relinquished command of Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 21 today to Capt. Eric Rozek. Poe a native of Patuxent River, Maryland, has served at least three Commander, Submarine... MORE

MANAMA, Bahrain (Apr. 8, 2021) – Capt. Eric Rozek, a St. Paul, Minnesota, native, and incoming Commodore of Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 21 addresses his staff at a change of command ceremony. CSS-21 is responsible for bringing theater support to deployed units, allowing for better coordination in submarine operational, logistics, and maintenance support, and providing oversight on submarine training and exercises to support theater operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Crouch)

CMDCM(Ret) Andy Arena - 48 years of submarine force service and counting
April 8, 2021 — Andy Arena is a born and bred child of a multigenerational military family. His father retired as a Sgt. 1st Class in the Army; his brother, who commissioned in the Air Force, retired as a Colonel after serving as commander of the Titan IV missile program. It took no one by surprise when in 1973 at age 18, Arena left Yorktown, Virginia to serve his... MORE

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Thomas
Commander, Submarine Group Seven

USS Chicago Holds Change of Command
April 7, 2021 — The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, April 7.Cmdr. Andrew J. Kopacz, from Hartford, Wisconsin, relieved Cmdr. Chance Litton, from Lubbock, Texas, as Chicago’s commanding officer, during the ceremony, which was held on the historic submarine... MORE

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (April 7, 2021) -- Capt. Mike Majewski, left, commodore, Submarine Squadron 7, presents Cmdr. Chance Litton with his end of tour award during a change of command ceremony for the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721), April 7. Cmdr. Andrew J. Kopacz relieved Litton as Chicago's commanding officer during the ceremony on the historic submarine piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Amanda R. Gray/Released)

USS Mississippi Conducts Change of Command
February 26, 2021 — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 26. Cmdr. Edward Barry, from Cortland, New York, relieved Cmdr. Heath Johnmeyer, from Rolla, Missouri, as Mississippi’s commanding officer during the ceremony, which was held at the Parche Memorial on... MORE

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) conducted a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 26.

Guam Sailor Earns Officer Instructor of the Year
February 17, 2021 — Santa Rita, Guam (Feb. 17, 2021) – Lt. Alfonso Sciacchitano, assigned to Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific, Detachment Guam, was announced as the 2020 Naval Education and Training Command Officer Instructor of the Year in a ceremony held at Konetzni Hall, Feb 11.Sciacchitano, a native of Marietta, Georgia, was also announced as the 2020 NSTCP... MORE

SANTA RITA, Guam (Feb. 17, 2021) Lt. Alfonso Sciacchitano, a native of Marietta, Georgia, assigned to Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific, Detachment Guam, poses for a portrait in the Submarine Multi-Mission Team Trainer at Konetzni Hall. Sciacchitano was announced as the 2020 Naval Education and Training Command Officer Instructor of the Year. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelsey J. Hockenberger)

USS Ohio Conducts Joint Operations with Marine Corps element near Okinawa
February 2, 2021 — PACIFIC OCEAN, Japan (Feb. 2, 2021) – The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) made a brief stop near Okinawa, Japan today as part of her deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, giving the crew a rare opportunity to conduct joint integration operations with a III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) force reconnaissance... MORE

PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 2, 2021) -- U.S. Marines from Force Reconnaissance Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), utilize combat rubber raiding crafts to approach the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, during an integration exercise off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. The exercise was part of ongoing III MEF-U.S. 7th Fleet efforts to provide flexible, forward-postured and quick-response options to regional commanders. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Destiny Dempsey)