Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class STEVEN HOSKINS | 180503-N-LW591-060 GROTON, Conn. (May. 3, 2018) Avon, Mich. native, Capt. David Youtt,...... read more read more
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GROTON, Conn. – Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 12 held a change of command ceremony on Thursday, May 3 aboard the Los Angeles Class, fast-attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn.
Capt. David Youtt relieved Capt. Ollie Lewis as Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 12.
Commander, Submarine Forces, Vice Adm. Joseph E. Tofalo, who served as the ceremony’s guest speaker praised Lewis for his accomplishments by looking to the submarine force’s past. “This week in 1944 U.S. submarines torpedoed or sank 12 enemy vessels, including five warships. Today, we rely on our squadron commodores to instill the same fighting spirit and readiness into our modern undersea warriors,” said Tofalo. “Commodore Lewis, your performance as Commander, Submarine Squadron 12 shows that our heritage, our submarines and our people are in good hands.”
When Lewis spoke, he credited his success to the submarines of CSS-12. “In my two years, 19 different commanding officers have served here. They truly are leaders of the highest caliber.”
Lewis also praised the CSS-12 staff by saying, “Building readiness is really our only job. Getting boats ready for whatever the tasking may be. That’s what this fantastic staff has always been about.”
Lewis enjoyed his time as CSS-12’s commodore and admitted he wasn’t in a rush to read his orders but was confident about the squadron’s future. “…I am certain that I am passing the lead to an even more accomplished submariner. Dave you are getting the finest submarine squadron in the world, composed of a staff and commanders who are ready to serve, willing to follow and able to succeed.”
CSS-12’s new commodore started his speech by expressing his appreciation for the Groton area. “I’m excited to be back in Groton and to answer everyone’s question, yes, Janet and I did ask to move here from Pearly Harbor, Hawaii. This job and location was our number one choice.”
Youtt said Groton was where he learned to be a submariner. He spoke of how the challenging conditions have built Sailor’s seamanship. “It’s a place with it’s high current, fog, cold winds and countless lobster pots, that makes a true seaman of all that go to sea.”
Youtt transitioned from the past to the future by pledging, “As squadron 12 commodore, I will support commanding officers and their crews in all facets of meeting our primary responsibility of ensuring submarines and crews are ready to conduct high-end missions on short notice. We will do this together through trust, integrity, training, respect, open communication and teamwork. The ultimate goal is independence of action at all levels of the chain of command, and we will become as efficient and professional of an organization as possible.”
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2018 14:29 |
| Story ID: | 275776 |
| Location: | GROTON, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 2,122 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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