Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Saldana | KINGS BAY, Ga., (April 22, 2021) Capt. Craig Gummer, outgoing commodore of Commander,...... read more read more
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KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) –Commander, Submarine Squadron 20 (CSS-20) held a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, April 22.
Capt. John Cage relieved Capt. Craig Gummer as the commodore of CSS-20 in a socially-distanced ceremony held at the base’s World War II memorial pavilion.
Rear Adm. John Spencer, Commander, Submarine Group Ten was the guest speaker at the event and praised the ability of CSS-20 and its subordinate units to accomplish the mission despite a global pandemic.
“Craig Gummer and his CSS-20 team have been a critical element to this success,” said Spencer. “Craig has provided superb leadership while preparing twelve submarine crews for the successful execution and completion of their employment and maintenance cycles. He expertly led his squadron through an incredibly demanding, complex, and challenging operational and maintenance period as a result of the significant modernization efforts underway to extend the life of the OHIO-class and prepare for the COLUMBIA-class arrival. Despite these challenges, CSS-20 SSBNs [ballistic missile submarines] met all Strategic Command requirements and operational commitments assigned.”
Gummer is a native of Plainfield, Indiana and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering. He received his commissioning through the Naval ROTC program.
He assumed command January 2019 and credits his successful tour to the hard work of the 12 submarine crews.
“Staff, keep on it,” said Gummer. “You are hands down, the best submarine squadron staff. The hardest working, best prepared, and most dedicated to the mission and to getting our ships on patrol. So keep that up and give the same level of effort to Capt. Cage. I know you’re going to continue to do great work accomplishing the mission.”
Cage is a native of Jefferson City, Missouri and was commissioned through the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics.
He assumes command after serving as Special Assistant to the Director for Technical and Operational matters at Naval Reactors headquarters.
“It is exciting for me to return to service as a part of the Navy’s strategic deterrence mission – as it has been a part of my family’s history since the beginning,” said Cage. “A young Petty Officer Cage was onboard USS George Washington for the very first strategic deterrence patrol. He was so excited that he convinced his brother, my father, to enlist in the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program. Dad served on four of the original “41 For Freedom” submarines and was very proud of his time in the submarine force. I am honored to follow in their footsteps.”
Gummer will now serve as the Chief of staff at Commander, Submarine Group 2 in Norfolk, Va.
CSS-20 is responsible for the maintenance and operations of six Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines; USS Alaska (SSBN 732), USS Maryland (SSBN 738), USS Tennessee (SSBN 734), USS West Virginia (SSBN 736), USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740), and USS Wyoming (SSBN 742).
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is homeport to all East Coast Ohio-class submarines.
For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 10, visit https://www.sublant.usff.navy.mil/CSG10/
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.26.2021 09:21 |
| Story ID: | 394721 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 1,291 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Submarine Squadron 20 Holds Change of Command, by Ashley Berumen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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